A Philosophy for the Science of Well-Being

by Anna Alexandrova

Well-being, happiness and quality of life are now established objects of social and medical research. Does this science produce knowledge that is properly about well-being? What sort of well-being? The definition and measurement of these objects rest on assumptions that are partly normative, partly empirical and partly pragmatic, producing a great diversity of definitions depending on the project and the discipline. This book, written from the perspective of philosophy of science, formulates principles for the responsible production and interpretation of this diverse knowledge. Traditionally, philosophers' goal has been a single concept of well-being and a single theory about what it consists in. But for science this goal is both unlikely and unnecessary. Instead the promise and authority of the science depends on it focusing on the well-being of specific kinds of people in specific contexts. Skeptical arguments notwithstanding, this contextual well-being can be measured in a
valid and credible way - but only if scientists broaden their methods to make room for normative considerations and address publicly and inclusively the value-based conflicts that inevitably arise when a measure of well-being is adopted. The science of well-being can be normative, empirical and objective all at once, provided that we line up values to science and science to values.

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy

248 pages, Paperback

Published April 16, 2021

Reviews

[Heather Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

These sorts of projects in applied philosophy of science are, I think, some of the most valuable uses of the discipline (or maybe I just say that because it mirrors my own applied approach to the philosophy of animal welfare science .. haha). Alexandrova examines the conceptual foundations of the science of wellbeing, arguing for a pluralist approach, as well as looking at how the science works in practice, and how it might be improved. Even if you don't always agree with the conclusions drawn, the method itself is important and one that can form a solid basis to the study of many applied sciences.