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A Universal Declaration of Human Well-being

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Part of the book series: Wellbeing in Politics and Policy (WPP)

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
  2. Well-being in Politics and Policy

    • Annie Austin
    Pages 1-12
  3. Well-being in Theory

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 13-13
    2. Theories of Well-being: The Foundations

      • Annie Austin
      Pages 15-24
  4. Back Matter

    Pages 35-36
  5. Well-being in Practice

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 37-39
    2. Well-being in Europe

      • Annie Austin
      Pages 41-51
    3. Well-being in North America

      • Annie Austin
      Pages 53-60
    4. Well-being in Latin America

      • Annie Austin
      Pages 61-68
    5. Well-being in Asia

      • Annie Austin
      Pages 69-82
    6. Well-being in Africa

      • Annie Austin
      Pages 83-92
  6. Back Matter

    Pages 93-94
  7. Well-being: A Reflective Equilibrium

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 95-95
    2. Well-being: A Reflective Equilibrium

      • Annie Austin
      Pages 97-108
  8. Back Matter

    Pages 109-112

About this book

"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.

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

    Annie Austin

About the author

Annie Austin is Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Ethics and Policy at the University of Manchester, UK.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 44.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access