State and Happiness. On the Critique of the New Eudaimonism in Political Philosophy and Publicity.

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Stefan Huster
• Subject Area: Principles of Law and Jurisprudence ; Practical Philosophy
• Term: from 2022 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 466569335

In the political public sphere, but also in political philosophy, the results of empirical happiness research are attracting ever greater attention. On the one hand, this is understandable, because it is important for the evaluation of state measures what effects they have on the well-being and happiness of the citizens. On the other hand, the understanding of the state, law, and politics thereby acquires a eudaimonistic character that could come into tension with the basic principles of a liberal order. This tension will be analyzed here from the perspective of the philosophy of law. To this end, individual examples of the use of the results of happiness research in different fields of action will be examined in order to be able to finally assess what role these results can play in the politics of a liberal order.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants