1. L'eguaglianza di capacità: innovazione terminologica o nuova concezione analitica?

The principle of equality of capabilities developed by Sen and Nussbaum aims at providing a new conception of equality of opportunity, alternative to the major versions so far formulated and, in the first place, to the principle of equality of resources. Recently, however, the innovative character of equality of capability has come under growing attack. Focusing on Sen's version, the article first outlines the main features of the principle and then singles out and discusses the alleged similarities with other versions of equality of opportunity. The thesis is that, notwithstanding some similarities and various open problems, equality of capabilities represents an innovative distributive principle.