What is wellness? The role of human values. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Crowe, Jonathan
• Is Part Of: Alternative law journal. Volume 45:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: 261
• Page End: 265
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Wellness -- well-being -- legal education -- legal practice -- basic values -- human flourishing; Law -- Australia -- Periodicals; Law -- Social aspects -- Australia -- Periodicals; Law reform -- Australia -- Periodicals; 349.94
• DOI: 10.1177/1037969X20954872
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1037-969X

Abstract

There is a growing literature on wellness for law in Australia and elsewhere. Significant uncertainty exists, however, about what exactly wellness means in this context. I argue that wellness is not best understood either as the absence of psychological distress or as the presence of life satisfaction or positive affect. I propose an alternative understanding of wellness that centres around the role of basic values in human flourishing. Wellness, I suggest, consists in participating in the various dimensions of human flourishing in a balanced and integrated way. This approach draws out the deep challenges that wellness poses to legal education and practice.