CRITERIA OF SOCIAL WELL-BEING: UNIVERSALISM AND PROBLEMS OF SOCIO-CULTURAL DIMENSION

This article is devoted to the problem of finding criteria for social well-being and development of methodological principles for studying this phenomenon. This study is relevant because the current system of priorities in modern society is aimed at improving the quality of life and solving social problems. The insufficient development of the concept of well-being, the ambiguity of assessments, the existence of different approaches to understanding this phenomenon, the multiplicity of theoretical models determine the relevance of this study in scientific terms. The aim of the study is to analyze the existing approaches of identifying the well-being in the socioeconomic and psychological areas of knowledge. It is supposed to give their critical assessment and outline ways to solve the problem. Methods. This article uses analytical and comparative methods to compare objectivist and subjective approaches to the study of social well-being. Results. A comparative analysis of the existing scientific positions revealed the insufficiency of socio-economic and psychological understanding of social well-being. The article makes a conclusion about the limitations of universalistic criteria of social well-being and the need for their differentiation, taking into account the influence of socio-cultural and historical factors, as well as group belonging of individuals. It is important to note the role of identity and aesthetic choice of an individual in creating his/her needs and determining what is significant for him/her as a criterion of social well-being. The group’s legitimation of the individual choice establishes the social nature of the criteria for well-being.