Well-Being

This chapter defends a conception of well-being that underpins the theory of structural injustice. The core elements are health; knowledge and understanding; personal security; personal attachments; equal respect; and self-determination. The chapter points out the distinct ways that the conception of human well-being grounds human rights, explains the depth of unfairness of systematic patterns of disadvantage, and locates the fundamental unfairness of power relations in several forms of control some groups have over the most vital well-being interests of other groups. The conception is developed by way of a series of arguments that supports the selection of the core elements, and it offers a defense against a variety of objections to the inclusion of some elements on the list. The way in which the theory rests on a conception of well-being is distinguished from some other ways well-being informs other moral norms and other theories of justice.