Changes

Fundamental to enlarging these choices is building human capabilities —the range of [[things]] that people can do or be in life. The most basic capabilities for human development are to lead long and healthy lives, to be [[knowledge]]able, to have access to the resources needed for a decent [[standard of living]] and to be able to participate in the life of the [[community]]. Without these, many choices are simply not available, and many opportunities in life remain inaccessible.

Fundamental to enlarging these choices is building human capabilities —the range of [[things]] that people can do or be in life. The most basic capabilities for human development are to lead long and healthy lives, to be [[knowledge]]able, to have access to the resources needed for a decent [[standard of living]] and to be able to participate in the life of the [[community]]. Without these, many choices are simply not available, and many opportunities in life remain inaccessible.

 

This way of looking at '''growth''', often forgotten in the immediate concern with accumulating commodities and [[financial]] [[wealth]], is not new. [[Philosophers]], [[economists]] and [[political]] leaders have long emphasized [[human]] wellbeing as the [[purpose]], the end, of development. As Aristotle said in ancient Greece, “Wealth is evidently not the good we are seeking, for it is merely useful for the sake of something else.”

This way of looking at '''growth''', often forgotten in the immediate concern with accumulating commodities and [[financial]] [[wealth]], is not new. [[Philosophers]], [[economists]] and [[political]] leaders have long emphasized [[human]] wellbeing as the [[purpose]], the end, of development. As Aristotle said in ancient Greece, “Wealth is evidently not the good we are seeking, for it is merely useful for the sake of something else.”