Dear colleagues,

I have started to work on the notions of well-being and happiness. In psychology and more generally in social sciences, current conceptions of well-being and happiness often draw a distinction between “eudaimonic” and “hedonic” perspectives, with reference to Classical Hellenic philosophy, notably Aristotle’s concept of eudaimonia or Aristippus’ notion of hedone (see e.g. Ryan & Deci, 2001; Ryff, 1989; Waterman, 1993, 2013).
I wonder whether (or to what extent) such conceptual frameworks are valid outside the Western context. I also try to find out how well-being and happiness been conceptualised differently elsewhere, especially in India, in Sanskrit texts.

I have not found many bibliographical references so far (mostly papers by psychologists such as Kiran Kumar Salagame or Mohsen Joshanloo, and papers on ku"sala by Redesco and Cousins).
I would thus be extremely grateful for any suggestions.

If any member of the list is also interested in this topic, I am also interested in possible collaborations. Please let me know!

Best wishes,

Pascale Haag.


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Associate professor
École des hautes études en sciences sociales
Institut de recherches interdisciplinaires sur les enjeux sociaux – Sciences sociales, politique, santé
190, avenue de France
75013 Paris

http://iris.ehess.fr/index.php?1464