Should happiness guide social policy
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11420317 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Martina Fissi (University of Florence, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2014 |
| Volume | 33 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 473-485 |
| Publication date | 2014-10-02 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | South African Journal of Philosophy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0258-0136 • E-ISSN: 2073-4867 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/02580136.2014.976750 |
| OpenAlex | W1982941732 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 32 |
Since the 1970s, and especially since the 1990s, the concept of happiness has grown in importance in both the academic and popular domains. This article focuses on studies that collect empirical data on happiness with the aim of informing public policies that maximise collective happiness. These studies are characterised by two assumptions that are mostly taken for granted: that happiness is a psychological state and that it has a moral and ethical value. In this contribution, I will question this conception of happiness as a social goal from the point of view of political philosophy. I begin by examining the historical origin of the modern political concept of happiness. Following this, I evaluate the principle of happiness maximisation, comparing it to other wide-ranging principles (justice, equity, freedom and plurality), and bringing to the fore some implications of happiness maximisation that place it in conflict with democratic rights and freedoms. Finally, I sum up my line of reasoning and briefly reflect on some proper uses of happiness in public policy
Economic Justice · Economics · Empirical research · Epistemology · Happiness · Law and economics · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · Public policy · Sociology · Computer Science · Law · Philosophy · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social Psychology · Youth Education and Societal Dynamics
Fair Governance
Kant
What Is This Thing Called Happiness?
Guidelines for National Indicators of Subjective Well-Being and Ill-Being
Back to Bentham? Explorations of Experienced Utility
Does Economic Growth Improve the Human Lot? Some Empirical Evidence
The Origins of Happiness
Welfare, Happiness, and Ethics
Potential errors in conventional DOT measurement techniques in shake flasks and verification using a rotating flexitube optical sensor
A Theory of Justice
Mismeasuring Our Lives
The Promise of Happiness
Well-being inequality and reference groups
Happiness and Pleasure 1
"Hedonic Psychology and the Ambiguities of "Welfare
After happiness1
My own criticism ofthe joyless economy
The Idea of Justice
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |