Philosophy, Human Poverty, and Democracy

Abstract

This paper seeks to link philosophy and the social sciences. To be able to do so, I will first explain the distinction between the methods of philosophy and that of the social sciences. To put flesh into my argument, I will examine the problem of poverty using the lens of Thomas Pogge, who provides a definition, description, and explanation of poverty. To understand poverty as a moral as well as a political issue, I will elucidate some concepts introduced by Amartya Sen, Martha Nussbaum, and Iris Marion Young, illustrating in the process how their thoughts actually intersect. Finally, I will discuss the meaning of democracy and how, in order to understand it, one must appeal, beyond theory, to everyday experiences. The social sciences, in this regard, can be linked to moral philosophy. The social sciences should not be construed as separate or purely distinct from the philosophical questions that have shaped human knowledge.