In this article, Amartya Sen's seminal proof of the impossibility of a Paretian liberal is briefly reviewed. I then discuss the reception of this alleged ‘liberal paradox’ within the fields of political theory and welfare economics. In particular, I examine the criticisms made by Brian Barry, and their wider implications for the field of social choice theory. It is argued that the various criticisms made on Sen's characterisation of liberty are fundamental, and that Sen's subsequent defence of his position is unconvincing. Moreover, there remain some wider doubts as to the usefulness of social choice theory's SWF approach to individual rights and freedoms.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ArrowK.J. (1963), Social Choice and Individual Values (2nd edn), New Haven: Yale University Press.
2.
BarryB. (1986), ‘Lady Chatterley's Lover and Doctor Fischer's Bomb Party: Liberalism, Pareto Optimality, and the Problem of Objectionable Preferences’ in ElsterJ.HyllandA. (eds.), Foundations of Social Choice Theory, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 11–44.
3.
BarryB. (1989), Theories of Justice, Berkeley: University of California Press.
4.
BarryB. (1991), ‘Paradox Lost’, added paragraph to ‘Lady Chatterley's Lover and Doctor Fischer's Bomb Party: Liberalism, Pareto Optimality, and the Problem of Objectionable Preferences’ in his Liberty and Justice: Essays in Political Theory 2, Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 78–109.
5.
BarryB. (1995), Justice as Impartiality, Oxford: Clarendon Press.
6.
DowdingK. (1997), ‘Fairness in Political Choice: Equity, Rights and Votes’ (mimeo), London School of Economics.
7.
DrèzeJ.SenA. (1989), Hunger and Public Action, Oxford: Clarendon Press.
8.
DrèzeJ.SenA. (1995), India. Economic Development and Social Opportunity, Delhi: Oxford University Press.
9.
GaertnerW.PattanaikP.K.SuzumuraK. (1992), ‘Individual Rights Revisited’, Economica59, pp. 161–177.
10.
HammondP. (1982), ‘Utilitarianism, Uncertainty, and Information’ in SenA.WilliamsB. (eds.), Utilitarianism and Beyond, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 85–102.
11.
KolmS.-C. (1994), ‘Rational Normative Economics vs. “Social Welfare” and “Social Choice”’, European Economic Review38, pp. 721–730.
12.
LeviI. (1982), ‘Liberty and Welfare’ in SenA.WilliamsB. (eds.), Utilitarianism and Beyond, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 239–250.
13.
LittleI.M.D. (1973), ‘Social Choice and Individual Values’ in PhelpsE. (ed.), Economic Justice, Harmondsworth: Penguin, pp. 137–152.
14.
MuellerD. (1989), Public Choice II, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
15.
PattanaikP. (1994), ‘Rights and Freedom in Welfare Economics’, European Economic Review38, pp. 731–738.
16.
SenA. (1981), Poverty and Famines: An Essay on Entitlement and Deprivation, Oxford: Clarendon Press.
17.
SenA. (1982a), ‘The Impossibility of a Paretian Liberal’ in his Choice, Welfare, and Measurement, Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, pp. 285–290.
18.
SenA. (1982b), ‘Liberty, Unanimity, and Rights’ in his Choice, Welfare, and Measurement, Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, pp. 290–326.
19.
SenA. (1982c), ‘Personal Utilities and Public Judgements: Or What's Wrong with Welfare Economics?’ in his Choice, Welfare, and Measurement, Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, pp. 327–352.
20.
SenA. (1983), ‘Liberty and Social Choice’, Journal of Philosophy80, pp. 5–28.
21.
SenA. (1985), Commodities and Capabilities, Amsterdam: North-Holland.
22.
SenA. (1986), ‘Foundations of Social Choice Theory: An Epilogue’ in ElsterJ.HyllandA. (eds.), Foundations of Social Choice Theory, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 213–249.
23.
SenA. (1987), On Ethics and Economics, Oxford: Blackwell.
24.
SenA. (1988), ‘Freedom of Choice: Concept and Content’, European Economic Review32, pp. 269–294.
25.
SenA. (1992a), Inequality Reexamined, Oxford: Clarendon Press.
26.
SenA. (1992b), ‘Minimal Liberty’, Economica59, pp. 139–159.
27.
SenA. (1993a), ‘Capability and Well-being’ in NussbaumM.SenA. (eds.), The Quality of Life, Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 30–53.
28.
SenA. (1993b), ‘Liberty and Social Choice’ in BoothW.J.JamesP.HudsonM. (eds.), Politics and Rationality, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 11–33.
29.
SenA.MuelbauerJ.KanburR.HartK.WilliamsB. (1987), The Standard of Living, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
30.
SugdenR. (1985), ‘Liberty, Preference, and Choice’, Economics and Philosophy1, pp. 213–229.
