The Capabilities Approach, as articulated by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum, offers a robust normative framework for evaluating well-being and justice in social arrangements, including the urban context. Rather than focusing solely on economic growth or resource distribution, the Capabilities Approach centers on what individuals are actually able to do and be—their substantive freedoms or “capabilities”—and the real opportunities available to them to pursue lives they have reason to value (Sen 1999; Nussbaum 2011). In the context of a thriving city, this framework provides a multidimensional lens for understanding and fostering urban environments where all residents can flourish.
Core Categories of Human Capabilities
Martha Nussbaum’s influential work provides a concrete list of ten central human capabilities, which she argues are essential for a life worthy of human dignity and should be guaranteed to all as a matter of basic justice (Nussbaum 2011). These categories, when realized in the urban context, form the foundation for a thriving city:
- Life: The ability to live a life of normal length, free from premature death or conditions that render life not worth living. In cities, this translates to access to healthcare, safe living conditions, and protection from violence or environmental hazards (Nussbaum 2011).
- Bodily Health: The capability to enjoy good health, including reproductive health, adequate nourishment, and shelter. Urban policies that ensure clean water, nutritious food, healthcare services, and decent housing directly support this capability (Nussbaum 2011).
- Bodily Integrity: The freedom to move safely throughout the city, security from violence (including sexual and domestic violence), and autonomy over one’s body. Urban design that prioritizes safe public spaces, effective policing, and protection of personal freedoms is crucial here (Nussbaum 2011).
- Senses, Imagination, and Thought: The opportunity to use one’s senses, imagine, think, and reason, supported by education, cultural participation, and freedom of expression. Cities that invest in education, libraries, cultural institutions, and digital access expand this capability (Nussbaum 2011).
- Emotions: The ability to form attachments, love, grieve, and experience a full range of emotions without fear or anxiety. Social support networks, inclusive community spaces, and mental health services are vital for nurturing this dimension (Nussbaum 2011).
- Practical Reason: The capacity to form a conception of the good and engage in critical reflection about one’s life. Urban environments that foster civic education, public deliberation, and freedom of conscience enable residents to exercise practical reason (Nussbaum 2011).
- Affiliation: The ability to live with and toward others, engage in social interaction, and be treated with dignity and respect. This includes both social participation and the social bases of self-respect. Cities that promote inclusivity, social cohesion, and non-discrimination policies strengthen this capability (Nussbaum 2011).
- Other Species: The opportunity to live with concern for and in relation to animals, plants, and the natural world. Urban green spaces, environmental stewardship, and policies that protect biodiversity are expressions of this capability (Nussbaum 2011).
- Play: The ability to laugh, play, and enjoy recreational activities. Access to parks, sports facilities, and cultural events are essential for this aspect of thriving (Nussbaum 2011).
- Control over One’s Environment: This includes both political and material dimensions. Politically, it means participating in the governance of one’s city and having a voice in decisions that affect one’s life. Materially, it involves access to property, employment, and economic opportunities. Democratic institutions, participatory planning, and equitable economic policies are key to realizing this capability (Nussbaum 2011).
Capabilities and Urban Functionings: Empirical Manifestations
Empirical research applying the Capabilities Approach to urban contexts demonstrates that thriving cities are those where these central capabilities are not only theoretically recognized but are substantively enabled through urban design, governance, and policy (Janssen 2024; Robeyns 2017). For instance, studies of urban development projects in Europe reveal that residents’ ability to convert spatial resources—such as public spaces, housing, and mobility infrastructure—into valued capabilities depends on both individual circumstances and institutional arrangements (Janssen 2024). Participatory urban planning processes, informed by the Capabilities Approach, have been shown to more effectively identify and address the specific capability deprivations experienced by diverse urban populations (Frediani 2010).
Moreover, empirical studies highlight that thriving cities are characterized by the presence of robust social support networks, opportunities for meaningful work and civic engagement, and environments that foster creativity, collaboration, and trust (Janssen 2024; Frediani 2010). These functionings—actual achievements such as participating in community life, accessing fulfilling employment, and enjoying public spaces—are direct indicators of urban thriving and are made possible by the expansion of underlying capabilities.
Critical Engagement: Challenges and Contextualization
While the Capabilities Approach offers a powerful framework for conceptualizing and pursuing urban thriving, its application in city contexts is not without challenges. Critics point to the complexity of operationalizing abstract capabilities in heterogeneous urban environments, the tension between universal lists and context-specific needs, and the methodological difficulties of measuring capabilities and functionings in practice (Robeyns 2017; Frediani 2010). Addressing these challenges requires participatory, context-sensitive approaches that engage urban residents in identifying which capabilities matter most in their specific settings and in co-creating solutions that expand real freedoms for all.
Conclusion
In sum, the categories of human capabilities and functionings that lead to a thriving city, as articulated by the Capabilities Approach, encompass life, bodily health and integrity, senses, imagination and thought, emotions, practical reason, affiliation, care for the natural world, play, and control over one’s environment. These capabilities, when equitably accessible and substantively realized, enable residents to flourish individually and collectively, transforming the city into a dynamic space of inspiration, safety, fulfillment, and shared possibility.
He's been happily married for over 30 years. He and his wife, Donnalee, work with nearly /newlywed couples, married couples who want to improve their marriage, and couples in crisis.
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References
Frediani, Alexandre Apsan. 2010. “Sen’s Capability Approach as a Framework to the Practice of Development.” Development in Practice 20(2): 173–187.
Janssen, Céline. 2024. Developing Places for Human Capabilities: Governing Social Sustainability in Area-Based Urban Development Projects. Delft: Delft University of Technology.
Nussbaum, Martha C. 2011. Creating Capabilities: The Human Development Approach. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
Robeyns, Ingrid. 2017. Wellbeing, Freedom and Social Justice: The Capability Approach Re-Examined. Cambridge: Open Book Publishers.
Sen, Amartya. 1999. Development as Freedom. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
