Libertarian paternalism and the capability ­ approach. Friends or foes?
Libertarian paternalism and the capability ­ approach. Friends or foes?

Summary/Abstract: This paper compares the capability approach (CA) and libertarian paternalism (LP) to see whether they are compatible. Thecomparison focuses on rationality, wellbeing, and freedom. The main theoretical framework is Sen’s ‘reason to value’ (RtV).The relevance of this to CA, and LP is analysed, and whether the primacy that CA and LP both accord to reason leads to pa-ternalism is examined. Although the principal focus is on Sen’s, Sunstein’s and Thaler’s original ideas, their key concepts areanalysed in the context of the contemporary critical literature on the topic. This critical analysis not only makes it possible toassess whether CA and LP are compatible, but also to see how they perceive rationality, wellbeing, and freedom. The criti-cal analysis further differentiates the various interpretations of RtV in the literature and explains how CA and LP function.

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