Happiness and well-being

Shifting the focus of the current debate

Bibliographic Data

ID11420175
AuthorsRaffaele Rodogno (0000-0001-8371-6968, Aarhus University, corresponding author)
Year2014
Volume33
Issue4
Pages433-446
Publication date2014-10-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSouth African Journal of Philosophy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0258-0136 • E-ISSN: 2073-4867
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/02580136.2014.968477
OpenAlexW2067052731
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited21

The point of departure of this paper is the recently emphasised distinction between psychological theories of happiness, on the one hand, and normative theories of well-being, on the other. With this distinction in mind, I examine three possible kinds of relation that might exist between (psychological) happiness and (normative) well-being; to wit, happiness may be understood as playing a central part in (1) a formal theory of well-being, (2) a substantive theory of well-being or (3) as an indicator for well-being. I note that, in the relevant literature, happiness is mostly discussed in terms of either (1) or (2). In this paper, I attempt to motivate a shift of focus away from such accounts of happiness and towards (3), i.e. its epistemic role. When examined in connection to (normative) well-being, (psychological states of) happiness and unhappiness should be understood as psychological states that inform individuals about the contribution of various activities, pursuits, or situations to their well-being or ill-being

Epistemology · Happiness · Normative · Sociology · Subjective well-being · Well-being · Computer Science · Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions · Optimism, Hope, and Well-being · Philosophy · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social Psychology

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