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A Conceptual-Referent Theory of Happiness: Heterogeneity and its Consequences

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What is the most valuable good that can be pursued? ... . Most people are pretty much agreed about the name; for both the many and the refined call it happiness, ... But as to what happiness is, they disagree” Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics

Abstract

This paper puts forward The Conceptual Referent Theory of Happiness (CRT), which states that a person’s conceptual referent for a happy life plays a role in the judgment of her life and in the appraisal of her happiness. A typology of eight conceptual referents for happiness is made on the basis of a review of philosophical essays on happiness.The theory contributes to the understanding of happiness by focusing on a cognitive factor involved in the judgment process: A person’s notion of what a happy life is, of what she understands for being well. Thus, CRT complements previous research by studying what a person thinks, rather than what she feels, at the time of appraising her life. CRT also stresses the importance of heterogeneity; this is: the conceptual referent is not the same for every person; people have different conceptions of what a happy life is. Hence, the investigation studies the issue of superiority in the conceptual referent for happiness. It shows that no conceptual referent can be considered as superior in the sense of being associated to greater happiness. However, there are a few conceptual referents that are clearly inferior. The investigation also studies the influence of socioeconomic and demographic variables in the conceptual referent a person holds. It shows that the probability of embracing a particular conceptual referent for happiness is contingent on a person’s socioeconomic and demographic situation. The empirical investigation is based on data from a large survey applied in Mexico.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, Universidad de las Américas, Puebla, México

    Mariano Rojas

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  1. Mariano Rojas
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Correspondence to Mariano Rojas.

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This paper, and in special section 1, has benefited from long conversations with Ruut Veenhoven. I would like to express my gratitude for his help and friendship. I would also like to express my gratitude to Mark Chekola for his recommendations. The research benefited from a grant from CONACYT, Mexico, which is highly appreciated.

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Rojas, M. A Conceptual-Referent Theory of Happiness: Heterogeneity and its Consequences. Soc Indic Res 74, 261–294 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-004-4643-8

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