Human Well-Being: A New Approach Based on Overall and Ordinary Functionings

John Tomer ()

Review of Social Economy, 2002, vol. 60, issue 1, 23-45

Abstract: This paper develops a concept of human well-being that integrates economic and noneconomic aspects of life. Philosophers, humanistic psychologists, and religious traditions have been very helpful in pointing out the true noneconomic potential of human life. Our new approach to well-being, the overall/ordinary approach includes these higher aspects of human life. In addition to the ordinary adult human functionings, basically the functionings Sen mentions, the new approach includes a group of higher human functionings which are called overall human functioning. To adequately assess a person's or a society's well-being, it is necessary to consider both people's ordinary (or lower) functionings and their overall (or higher) functionings. Raising societal well-being requires capital formation, particularly investment in personal and social capital.

Keywords: Human Well-BEING; Functionings; Welfare; Happiness; Humanistic Philosophy And Psychology; Personal Capital; Social Capital; Human Nature; Religion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2002
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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DOI: 10.1080/00346760110127083

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