Bhaskar and Sen: Two foundations on which to build a new approach to career guidance and life planning

Robertson, Peter J

Abstract

This paper argues for a new perspective on guidance and life planning that is informed, but not dominated, by pre-existing Western conceptions of career. Two scholars are highlighted as providing potential foundations for a new approach. Firstly, the critical realism of Roy Bhaskar provides a challenge to the dominant paradigms underpinning the social sciences. Secondly, the capability approach of Amartya Sen provides an alternative to individualistic notions of employability and career management. Whilst the work of Bhaskar and Sen is very different, there are some commonalities. Both are pragmatic, concerned with justice, and allow considerable freedom in the application of their ideas to specific contexts. They have potential for stimulating new approaches to career development pertinent to the needs of rapidly developing economies.

Citation

Robertson, P. J. (2018). Bhaskar and Sen: Two foundations on which to build a new approach to career guidance and life planning. Indian Journal of Career and Livelihood Planning, 6(1), 22-28

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 15, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Dec 31, 2017
• Publication Date: May 4, 2018
• Deposit Date: Apr 5, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: May 4, 2018
• Journal: Indian Journal of Career Guidance and Livelihood Planning
• Print ISSN: 2319-2313
• Electronic ISSN: 2319-2313
• Publisher: Indian Association for Career and Livelihood PLanning
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 22-28
• Keywords: Career Guidance; Critical Realism; Capability Approach; Social Justice; Freedom; Career Theory
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1144664
• Publisher URL: http://www.iaclp.org/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/5_Robertson_Bhaskar__Sen_22-28.119130144.pdf
• Contract Date: May 4, 2018