'Who are the capability theorists?': a tale of the origins and development of the capability approach.

This article traces the history and development of the capability approach, emphasizing the foundational roles of Amartya Sen, Martha Nussbaum, and Vivian Walsh. While Sen pioneered the approach within development economics, he notably rejected the label of "capability theorist," and the paper argues that his role has been somewhat overstated in existing literature. Nussbaum expanded Sen’s framework into a "capabilities approach" by introducing a definitive list of central human capabilities rooted in Aristotelian ethics, whereas Walsh, a largely neglected figure, anticipated key concepts like functionings (as "achievements") and contributed a relational ontology linking economics and moral philosophy. The article also distinguishes two contemporary schools of thought: the capability approach-centred perspective, focused on operationalizing the approach for quantitative assessment of well-being, and the capability approach heuristic value perspective, which adopts a broader, more humanistic and interdisciplinary view.