The nature and scope of development ethics

Abstract

Abstract This article surveys the recently established field of enquiry called 'development ethics' – that is, ethical enquiry into the normative basis of socio-economic development. This covers two levels of enquiry. First, it involves enquiry into the nature of human well-being and the social norms within which the conditions of well-being should be promoted, and includes consideration of both the means and the ends of development. Second, it involves the ethical basis of the wider global framework within which the development of countries takes place. This covers both the normative basis of international relations and the global relations between individuals in different parts of the world as expressed in the idea of global responsibility. Keywords: developmentethicsglobal responsibilitymeans and endswell-being Notes This was originally a keynote lecture given at the IDEA International Conference, University of Makerere, Uganda on 19 July 2006. Specific references to Uganda have been removed. He has written extensively in the area, a recent book being Development ethics: A guide to theory and practice (Goulet Citation1995). Whilst the standard view is that it is the actual functionings that constitute a person's well-being which the capabilities make possible, it is plausible to regard certain capabilities (or at least the agent's awareness that he possesses them) as also constitutive of his well-being. Being free and being aware that one is free both seem to be 'goods' apart from anything I do to exercise my freedom. These were the organising ethical themes of the conference in Uganda. See n1.