Nussbaum: The Central Human Functional Capabilities

Nussbaum presents the following list of central human functioning capabilities as attempt to specify the basic notion of the good: She believes all citizens should have these capabilities. She introduces the list as capabilities rather than actual functionings; she argues that capability should be the goal of public policy (214).
Nussbaum’s list of ten Central Human Functional Capabilities (CHFC); the first is “Life. Being to live to the end of a human life of normal length; not dying prematurely or before one’s life is so reduced as to be not worth living (215).” Nussbaum is basically saying also humans have a right to die a natural death; they have a right to not be murdered or diseased, or cause death to oneself. The second CHFC is, “Bodily health and integrity, being able to have good health, including reproductive health; being adequately nourished; being able to have adequate shelter (215).” You have a right to be healthy, you have a right to reproduce health, to be nourished in order to stay healthy, and to have shelter to keep you safe and healthy. The third is “Bodily integrity. Being able to move freely from place to place; being able to be secure against violent assault, including sexual assault, martial rape, and domestic violence; having opportunities for sexual satisfaction and for choice in matters of reproduction (215).” One has a right to stay out of harms way, to be safe of any violence; assault, rape, abuse. You have the choice to have sexual satisfaction, no one should be able to take that from you, or take away your choice to reproduce or not. The fourth CHFC is “Senses, imagination, and thought. Being able to uses the senses; being able to imagine, to think, and to reason (215).” Humans may use their senses, at their free will. They have the choice to use their imaginations to be creative, to think, humans have the choice to an education. To reason, humans have the capability to reason with one another. The fifth is “Emotions. Being able to have attachments to things and persons outside ourselves; being able to love those who love and care for us.” Humans have the right to become attached to objects; like a favorite blanket or a stuffed animal, or even to another human being, like a spouse or significant other. We have a choice to have feelings towards others. The sixth CHFC is “Practical reason. Being able to form a conception of the good and to engage in critical reflection about the planning of one’s own life (215).” Humans have the choice of understanding their rights and to interact in conversation with one another, and to reflect on one’s life goals. The seventh is, “Affiliation. To engage in various forms of social interaction. Human beings have the choice to converse with one another socially. (215).” The eighth CHFC is “Other species. (216).” Humans are able to live with the concern for other species, such as animals, plants, and other natures on earth. The ninth is, “Play (216).” Humans have to right to play, to enjoy one self, and to have laughter. The last and final CFHC is, “Control over one’s environment (216).” Humans have the right to have the choice to be involved in the govern of one’s life. Humans have to the right to political participation, the right to use freedom of speech and freedom of association.
Nussbaum, Martha C. “The Central Human Functional Capabilites.” A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2006. pp214-216.