ABSTRACT
Martha Nussbaum has sought to establish the significance of disability for the content and structure of liberal theories of justice. A comprehensive appraisal of Nussbaum's capability approach would require discussion of its procedural aspects, and in particular the adequacy of her departures from Rawlsian political contractarianism. In 'Human Dignity and Political Entitlements' Nussbaum presents an account of dignity as being both 'squarely' part of the world of nature and as not requiring a sharp division between rationality and other human capacities. Profoundly disabled people are a vulnerable group, and those responsible for their care often work under great pressure and wield considerable power, not always exercised in the presence of third parties. They may adapt to oppressive social norms in a manner such that their identity conforms to their designated status as comprehensively dependent and incapable.
