Chapter Divenire attori del proprio sviluppo. Il lavoro nel pensiero di A. Sen

Abstract

Sen’s conception of work is closely connected to his theory of development which must/should be understood/meant not only in terms of economic growth, but also as the promotion of human progress and people’s living conditions. Human work is both an important functioning for personal realization and a fundamental means for acquiring greater capabilities and the capacity of agency, that allow to increase the space of life choices. Therefore unemployment as well as an economic problem is an offense to human dignity and an impoverishment of the social facet of life. Then we need policies that promove the whole spectrum of human capabilities: the reference object must be the empowerment of the worker rather than a particular workplace, according to a positive view of work.