Martha Nussbaum

Martha C.

Martha C. Nussbaum is an American philosopher and legal scholar known for her work in ethics, political philosophy, and feminist philosophy. She is a leading theorist of the capabilities approach to human development and justice.

What it is

Martha Nussbaum is the Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago, with joint appointments in the Law School and the Department of Philosophy. Her work spans ancient philosophy, emotions, moral psychology, justice, liberalism, feminism, and human rights. She has authored more than twenty books, including *The Fragility of Goodness* and *Women and Human Development*.

Why it matters

Nussbaum is best known for developing the capabilities approach with economist Amartya Sen. This theory evaluates well-being by the real opportunities people have to achieve valued ways of living, emphasizing core human capabilities needed for dignity and flourishing. Her work has influenced debates on justice, education, and social policy globally.

Key details

Born in New York City in 1947, Nussbaum earned her BA from New York University and her MA and PhD from Harvard. She has taught at Harvard, Brown, and Oxford before joining the University of Chicago. Her scholarship also addresses philosophical feminism, multiculturalism, and the arts, making her a prominent voice in liberal feminism.