Abstract

When contemporary philosophers write about well-being, they are typically preoccupied with the search for the best substantive theory of well-being. Substantive theories of well-being purport to tell us what ultimately makes something good or bad for an individual and, more broadly, what makes a life go well or poorly for the one who is living it. Hedonists tell us that it all comes down to pleasure and pain. Desire-fulfillment theorists say it is the fulfillment of our actual or idealized desires. Objective-list theorists claim that it is a plurality of things, some of which need not resonate with the person who receives them. Perfectionists maintain that it is a matter of developing and exercising one’s natural capacities. And, of course, a range of other theories have been proposed and discussed.