On compromising freedom of choice and subjective

2025-11-13

AI Summary

This paper addresses the tension between negative and positive freedom in capability set evaluation—specifically, how to jointly account for the intrinsic value of option diversity (e.g., autonomy, identity expression) and its instrumental value (e.g., potential to achieve valuable functionings). To resolve this, we propose a novel preference-based assessment framework that, for the first time, integrates subjective diversity valuation into the capability approach. By modeling individual preferences over option combinations, our framework quantifies heterogeneous valuations of diversity and constructs a compromise measure balancing freedom’s breadth with substantive feasibility. This enhances individual sensitivity and contextual adaptability in capability set measurement. Theoretically, it reconciles the long-standing dichotomy in freedom’s normative foundations; practically, it enables richer, multidimensional empirical characterization of real freedom.

Technology Category

• Knowledge Representation and Reasoning: Preferences
• Humans and AI: Learning Human Values and Preferences
• Machine Learning: Learning Preferences or Rankings

Application Category

• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Fairness, privacy, and diversity in economic environments
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Metrics for user behavior and evaluating success
• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy

Abstract

This paper proposes a new framework for evaluating capability sets by incorporating individual preferences over the diversity of accessible options. Building on the Capability Approach, we introduce a compromise method that balances between the notions of negative and positive freedom, effectively capturing the intrinsic and instrumental values of diverse choices within capability sets.

Problem

• Evaluating capability sets with individual diversity preferences
• Balancing negative and positive freedom through compromise method
• Capturing intrinsic and instrumental values of choice diversity

Innovation

• Framework incorporating preferences over accessible options diversity
• Compromise method balancing negative and positive freedom
• Capturing intrinsic and instrumental values of choices