A Universal Declaration of Human Well-being (Wellbeing in Politics and Policy)

"This book makes a vital contribution to the current literature on human well-being. Through a condensed but incisive analysis of a wide range of sources, from ancient philosophy to the political constitutions of modern nation states, Annie Austin builds a strong case for a universal core of human well-being. Her identification of the vital importance of an "infrastructure of sociality" should be noted by academicians, politicians and policy-makers who are seeking to use well-being as a means of rethinking how we are to meet the challenges of the 21st century." --Allister McGregor, University of Sheffield, UK This book examines the differing policy implications of the different conceptions of wellbeing across the world. There is an ongoing debate, in both philosophical and policy circles, about the legitimacy of universal frameworks of wellbeing. Who should decide what it means to live a good life? Is it possible to arrive at a shared definition, or is there simply too much individual and cultural diversity in conceptions of the good life? By devising an 'overlapping consensus' on wellbeing, the book represents a starting point for political negotiation and public deliberation about the kinds of societies we (as collectivities) wish to create, and the kinds of lives we (as individuals embedded in those societies) want to live. The book provides philosophically-informed public policy insight, making it a valuable contribution to interdisciplinary wellbeing scholarship. Annie Austin is Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Ethics and Policy at the University of Manchester, UK Preface and Acknowledgements 7 Contents 9 List of Tables 11 1 Well-being in Politics and Policy 12 1.1 Methodology and Methods: Reflective Equilibrium 16 1.1.1 Methods 17 1.1.1.1 Case Selection 18 1.2 Universals of Human Well-being? 19 1.2.1 The Descriptive Challenge 20 1.2.2 Ethical Naturalism 20 1.2.3 The Normative Challenge 21 References 22 Part I Well-being in Theory 24 2 Theories of Well-being: The Foundations 25 2.1 Hedonism: Utilitarianism and the New Science of Happiness 26 2.2 Political Liberalism: Resources and Rights 27 2.2.1 Resourcism 28 2.2.2 Rights-Based Approaches 29 2.3 Aristotelian Approaches: Virtues and Capabilities 29 2.3.1 Virtue Ethics 30 2.3.2 Communitarianism 30 2.3.3 The Capabilities Approach 31 2.3.4 The CA as an Analytical Framework: Values and Well-being 32 2.4 Chapter Summary 33 References 33 3 The Conditions and Constituents of Well-being: Overlapping Values 35 3.1 The Ancients 36 3.2 Modern Political Theory 38 3.3 Practical Reason and Integrity 40 3.4 Chapter Summary 42 References 42 Part I Summary of Part I: Well-being in Theory 44 Part II Well-being in Practice 46 4 Well-being in Europe 49 4.1 Theories of Well-being 50 4.2 Political Settings of Well-being in Europe 50 4.2.1 The European Union (EU) 50 4.2.2 Nordic Conceptions of the Good Life 51 4.2.3 Well-being in Western Europe 53 4.3 Second Wave Well-being 54 4.3.1 Well-being in Southern Europe 55 4.3.2 Well-being in Central and Eastern Europe 56 4.4 Mass Priorities in Europe 56 4.5 Chapter Summary: The “European Model”? 57 References 58 5 Well-being in North America 60 5.1 North American Liberalism 61 5.2 Constitutional Settings of Well-being 61 5.2.1 USA (1789, Rev. 1992) 61 5.2.2 Canada (1867, Rev. 1992) 63 5.2.3 The Second Wave of Well-being in North America 63 5.3 Mass Priorities in North America 66 5.4 Chapter Summary 67 References 67 6 Well-being in Latin America 68 6.1 Buen Vivir: A Philosophy of Well-being 69 6.2 Constitutional Settings of Well-being: Buen Vivir in Politics and Policy 71 6.2.1 Bolivia 71 6.2.2 Ecuador 72 6.3 Mass Priorities in Latin America 73 6.4 Chapter Summary 75 References 75 7 Well-being in Asia 76 7.1 Confucian, Daoist, Hindu and Arabic Conceptions of the Good 77 7.1.1 Chinese Ethics: Confucian and Daoist Conceptions of the Good 77 7.1.2 Indian Ethics: Hindu Conceptions of the Good 79 7.1.3 Arabic Conceptions of the Good 79 7.2 Constitutional Settings of Well-being 80 7.2.1 Bhutan (2008) 81 7.2.2 China (1982, Rev. 2004) 82 7.2.3 India (1949, Rev. 2016) 83 7.2.4 Qatar (2003) and the United Arab Emirates 83 7.2.5 United Arab Emirates 84 7.3 Mass Priorities in Asia 85 7.4 Chapter Summary 87 References 87 8 Well-being in Africa 90 8.1 Ubuntu: A Philosophy of the Good Life 91 8.2 Constitutional Settings of Well-being 92 8.2.1 Ghana (1992, Rev. 1996) 92 8.2.2 Morocco (2011) 94 8.2.3 Rwanda (2003, Rev. 2015) 94 8.2.4 Zimbabwe (2013, Rev. 2017) 95 8.2.5 The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights 96 8.3 Mass Priorities in Africa 97 8.4 Chapter Summary 97 References 99 Part II Summary of Part II: Well-being in Practice 100 Part III Well-being: A Reflective Equilibrium 102 9 Well-being: A Reflective Equilibrium 103 9.1 Themes from Theory 104 9.2 Themes from Practice 106 9.2.1 The Constitutional Settings of Well-being 106 9.2.2 “Beyond GDP” Initiatives 107 9.2.3 The World Values Survey 108 9.3 Overlapping Values 108 9.3.1 Social Relationships 110 9.3.2 (Relational) Integrity 111 9.4 Implications for Politics and Policy: An Infrastructure of Sociality 112 9.5 Conclusion: A Universal Declaration of Human Well-being 113 References 114 Index 115 This Book Makes A Vital Contribution To The Current Literature On Human Well-being. Through A Condensed But Incisive Analysis Of A Wide Range Of Sources, From Ancient Philosophy To The Political Constitutions Of Modern Nation States, Annie Austin Builds A Strong Case For A Universal Core Of Human Well-being. Her Identification Of The Vital Importance Of An Infrastructure Of Sociality Should Be Noted By Academicians, Politicians And Policy-makers Who Are Seeking To Use Well-being As A Means Of Rethinking How We Are To Meet The Challenges Of The 21st Century. —j Allister Mcgregor, University Of Sheffield, Uk This Book Examines The Differing Policy Implications Of The Different Conceptions Of Wellbeing Across The World. There Is An Ongoing Debate, In Both Philosophical And Policy Circles, About The Legitimacy Of Universal Frameworks Of Wellbeing. Who Should Decide What It Means To Live A Good Life? Is It Possible To Arrive At A Shared Definition, Or Is There Simply Too Much Individual And Cultural Diversity In Conceptions Of The Good Life? By Devising An ‘overlapping Consensus’ On Wellbeing, The Book Represents A Starting Point For Political Negotiation And Public Deliberation About The Kinds Of Societies We (as Collectivities) Wish To Create, And The Kinds Of Lives We (as Individuals Embedded In Those Societies) Want To Live. The Book Provides Philosophically-informed Public Policy Insight, Making It A Valuable Contribution To Interdisciplinary Wellbeing Scholarship. Front Matter ....Pages i-xi Well-being in Politics and Policy (Annie Austin)....Pages 1-12 Front Matter ....Pages 13-13 Theories of Well-being: The Foundations (Annie Austin)....Pages 15-24 The Conditions and Constituents of Well-being: Overlapping Values (Annie Austin)....Pages 25-33 Back Matter ....Pages 35-36 Front Matter ....Pages 37-39 Well-being in Europe (Annie Austin)....Pages 41-51 Well-being in North America (Annie Austin)....Pages 53-60 Well-being in Latin America (Annie Austin)....Pages 61-68 Well-being in Asia (Annie Austin)....Pages 69-82 Well-being in Africa (Annie Austin)....Pages 83-92 Back Matter ....Pages 93-94 Front Matter ....Pages 95-95 Well-being: A Reflective Equilibrium (Annie Austin)....Pages 97-108 Back Matter ....Pages 109-112