Focussing on people who experience poverty and on poor-led social movements: the methodology of moral philosophy, collective capabilities, and solidarity

In this commentary, I discuss three aspects of Monique Deveaux’saccount. First, the method ofGrounded Normative Theorizingsheadopts to engage directly with the contexts and views of thoseexperiencing povertyfits within a range of proposals to enhancethe methodology of moral and political philosophy, and I wouldcall on all philosophers working in this space to further developthese innovative methodologies. Second, Deveaux extends thecapabilities approach by focusing on the group-based characterof poverty and making the case for building the collectivecapabilities of poor-led social movements. While I do notsubstantially disagree with this argument (in practice), I arguethat we should be careful to avoid normative collectivism (as atheoretical assumption). Finally, Deveaux discusses politicalsolidarity with people experiencing poverty. I argue that thisshould be based on esteeming each other’s various contributionsin more diverse ways than only in narrow economic terms.Treating people in poverty and poor-led social movements asagents of justice, as Deveaux advocates, is a significant step in this endeavour.