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Harvard Book Store Friday Forum Series |
November 10th, 2000 |
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Martha C. Nussbaum Ernst Freund Distinguished Professor of Law and Ethics, University of Chicago 3pm on Friday, November 10th, 2000 |
Women and Human Development |
Martha Nussbaum's most recent work raises the critical issue of international feminist equality, and challenges current international political and economic thought. All governments must be sensitive to gender difference as a problem of justice, and feminist thought must begin to focus on the problems of women in the third world. Using the poor women of India as her prime example, Dr. Nussbaum shows how philosophy has the potential to utilize basic constitutional principles as a measurement of the quality of life across nations. "Nussbaum uses her important 'capabilities approach' to illuminate ongoing feminist issues in a variety of national context. Skillfully interweaving discussions of feminist issues from Western and Third World contexts, Nussbaum develops substantive positions on issues affecting women's relationships to families, religions, development and the state. A thought-provoking and significant contribution to thinking about feminist issues in an international context." "Martha Nussbaum has written an important, original, and moving book. With special attention to the lives of women in India, she defends the simple idea that all god's children
are entitled to live in a political society that secures the rudiments of a decent human life
Nussbaums book shows how philosophy can engage life, and improve it." |
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