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Defining poverty as distinctively human


HPP Lötter

Abstract



While it is relatively easy for most people to identify human beings suffering from poverty, it is rather more difficult to come to a proper understanding of poverty. In this article the author wants to deepen our understanding of poverty by interpreting the conventional definitions of poverty in a new light. The article starts with a defence
of a claim that poverty is a concept uniquely applicable to humans. It then present a critical discussion of the distinction between absolute and relative poverty and it is then argued that a revision of this distinction can provide general standards applicable to humans
everywhere.

HTS Theological Studies Vol. 63 (3) 2007: pp. 1195-1212

Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2072-8050
print ISSN: 0259-9422