What is Well-Being?
Project Overview
Well-being is often reduced to material conditions—wealth, healthcare access, security—but does that capture the full measure of human flourishing? This project shines a light on the deeper dimensions of well-being by asking: Is true well-being only about economic and physical comfort, or does it also include psychological fulfillment, social connectedness, and the capacity for growth at both individual and community levels?
Why It Matters
In a world where societal success is often measured by economic indicators, important aspects of human well-being can be overlooked. An overly narrow focus on material wealth ignores the psychological and social components that sustain healthy, thriving communities. By redefining “well-being,” this project aims to inform more inclusive policies and practices that address the full spectrum of human needs—ultimately helping to create environments where every individual can flourish.
Key Questions
• Is well-being simply a function of material prosperity, or does it also encompass psychological and social dimensions?
• How do cultural, economic, and political contexts influence what it means to “live well”?
• Can well-being be measured objectively? If so, what metrics best capture its essence?
• What conditions are necessary to achieve sustainable well-being at both individual and societal levels?
Get Involved
We invite researchers, policymakers, community leaders, and advocates to join this important inquiry. By engaging with the question “What is Well-Being?”, you can help shape a future in which human development is understood holistically—grounded in clear evidence, scientific rigor, and a commitment to nurturing all dimensions of life. Together, we can redefine well-being so that our collective progress reflects not just economic success, but the genuine flourishing of individuals and communities.
Research Approach
Our approach combines rigorous interdisciplinary inquiry with essentialist analysis. We are:
• Reviewing existing metrics: Evaluating current measures of well-being and questioning whether they capture the full range of human experience.
• Synthesizing diverse perspectives: Integrating insights from philosophy, psychology, economics, and sociology to create a cohesive framework for understanding well-being.
• Developing measurable criteria: Identifying the core components of well-being and establishing clear, actionable indicators to assess both individual and collective flourishing.
Potential Impact
By reexamining and redefining “well-being,” this research aims to:
• Inform policy and practice: Offer evidence-based insights to guide policies and interventions that foster holistic human development.
• Enrich academic discourse: Bridge gaps among different approaches to well-being by providing a unified language and framework for both research and practice.
• Empower communities: Give local and global stakeholders tools to cultivate environments that support not only economic growth but the full spectrum of human flourishing.
Research Outputs
(Research under production)
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Insights from our studies directly inform our advocacy initiatives and educational programs, ensuring theory translates into practice.
Contact us.
For more of our research or collaboration inquiries, feel free to contact our research team.