Philosophy as a Tool to Understand Poverty: An Integrative Approach

This work was developed as a transversal outcome of an undergraduate research project funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP Process No. 2025/17748-5). Although the main goal of the research is different, this paper addresses other relevant aspects, focusing specifically on how philosophy acts as a method to think about poverty. In this presentation, I want to discuss how philosophy is not just a collection of "abstract ideas" but a powerful and necessary tool to understand complex social problems. Using the work of the Mexican philosopher Paulette Dieterlen, I argue that we need philosophy to connect different areas of knowledge, such as economics, sociology, and political science. Often, these fields are separated by technical barriers, which makes it harder to see the human and ethical side of public policies. Philosophy helps to "join" these pieces together, creating a unified and clearer view of reality. This approach aligns with the conference’s goal of searching for a unified view of reality through different forms of inquiry. The focus of this study is to show how political philosophy provides the essential basis for analyzing poverty reduction programs, like the PROGRESA program in Mexico. By asking what it truly means to be "poor," we can see that poverty is not just a lack of money. Philosophy allows us to connect concepts like distributive justice, individual autonomy, and fundamental rights to the practical decisions made by governments. Therefore, philosophy is an essential method to overcome the limitations of technical specialization. It helps us to understand the person not just as a statistic, but as a moral and rational being with a life project. I also explore the relationship between "intelligence, rationality, and understanding," which is a central theme of this conference. I argue that a deep understanding of poverty requires more than just looking at economic data; it requires a form of "theoretical intelligence" that recognizes the importance of human dignity. By studying authors like John Rawls and Amartya Sen, through the perspective of Paulette Dieterlen, I show how philosophy acts as a bridge. It transforms high-level ethical theories into objective criteria that can be used to design fairer social institutions and more effective public policies. In conclusion, this work reaffirms that philosophy is vital to the search for a unified world view. In our current context of "epistemic fragmentation," where knowledge is often divided into small parts, the integration of normative ethics and political economy is the best path to face the global challenges of poverty. By connecting academic research with real-world problems, philosophy fulfills its role in organizing how we study and understand the human condition today.