Martha C. Nussbaum
Martha C. Nussbaum
Biography of a Renowned Philosopher and Public Intellectual
Full Name and Common Aliases
Martha Craven Nussbaum is the full name of this distinguished philosopher, often referred to by her initials M.C.N.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on May 6, 1947, Martha C. Nussbaum has lived a long and illustrious life.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nussbaum is an American citizen and has had a varied career as a philosopher, educator, and public intellectual. She is currently the Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago.
Early Life and Background
Martha C. Nussbaum was born in New York City to a family that valued education highly. Her father, Bernard Craven, was an engineer, and her mother, Dorothy (née Stein) Craven, was a psychoanalyst. Growing up, Nussbaum demonstrated exceptional intellectual curiosity and a passion for learning, which would eventually guide her towards a career in philosophy.
Major Accomplishments
Throughout her life, Martha C. Nussbaum has achieved numerous milestones that have cemented her status as one of the most prominent philosophers of our time:
She was a key figure in developing the capabilities approach to justice and welfare economics, which emphasizes the importance of human capabilities and functioning over economic growth.
Her work on Aristotle's Politics, particularly in relation to the concept of "human flourishing," has been instrumental in shaping contemporary debates about ethics and public policy.
Nussbaum has also made significant contributions to the field of feminist philosophy, exploring themes such as objectification, autonomy, and the capabilities approach.Notable Works or Actions
Some of Martha C. Nussbaum's notable works include:
The Fragility of Goodness (1986), a book that reexamines Aristotle's concept of "human flourishing" in light of modern philosophy.
Love's Knowledge: Essays on Philosophy and Literature (1990), which explores the relationship between philosophical inquiry and literary expression.
Upheavals of Thought (2001), a work that examines emotions, values, and human capabilities.
Impact and Legacy
Martha C. Nussbaum has had a profound impact on various fields, including philosophy, law, politics, and education:
Her ideas have influenced policymakers and scholars worldwide, shaping the way we think about justice, equality, and human flourishing.
As a public intellectual, she has written for numerous publications, including The New York Review of Books and The Times Literary Supplement, making her insights accessible to a broad audience.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Martha C. Nussbaum is widely quoted and remembered due to her:
Innovative ideas: Her capabilities approach has redefined the way we think about justice, welfare, and human development.
Interdisciplinary perspective: By drawing on philosophy, literature, politics, and law, she has created a rich and nuanced understanding of complex issues.
* Commitment to public engagement: Nussbaum's willingness to engage with policymakers, scholars, and the general public has made her ideas more accessible and influential.
Quotes by Martha C. Nussbaum
The presence of the other, which can be very threatening, becomes, in play, a delightful source of curiosity, and this curiosity contributes toward the development of healthy attitudes in friendship, love, and, later, political life. Winnicott.
There is danger in speaking so generally about “liberalism,” a danger that has often plagued feminist debates. “Liberalism” is not a single position but a family of positions; Kantian liberalism is profoundly different from classical Utilitarian liberalism, and both of these from the Utilitarianism currently dominant in neoclassical economics.
For a choice is always a choice among possible alternatives; and it is a rare agent for whom everything is possible. The special agony of this situation is that none of the possibilities is even harmless.
Another problem with people who fail to examine themselves is that they often prove all too easily influenced.
In our swamp of media sensationalism and group-speak, BOSTON REVIEW stands out as a bold voice for reason and argument, one of the very, very few places that offers intelligence, integrity, and variety.
Play teaches people to be capable of living with others without control; it connects the experiences of vulnerability and surprise to curiosity and wonder, rather than to crippling anxiety. How.
What are people actually able to do and to be? What real opportunities are available to them?
Disgust relies on moral obtuseness. It is possible to view another human being as a slimy slug or a piece of revolting trash only if one has never made a serious good-faith attempt to see the world through that person’s eyes or to experience that person’s feelings. Disgust imputes to the other a subhuman nature. How, by contrast, do we ever become able to see one another as human? Only through the exercise of imagination.
You should care about things in a way that makes it a possibility that tragedy will happen to you.