The concept of “Human well-being”: reception and allusions

The article discusses the role of the concept of "reception" and the notion of allusion in the structure of human knowledge. From the standpoint of the post-structuralist research method, sociocultural phenomena, to which, scientific output of course applies, should not be examined individually, but as components of a complex system. It includes both the author's scientific output, and all interest expressed in the results of his scientific work. This approach allows us to recognize that the values and meanings inherent to the author’s scientific endeavors are inevitably subjected to change and rethinking by the next generation of researchers. The author explores reception and allusions, on which the ever more common concept of "human wellbeing" relies. This, a private matter at first glance, offers prospects for the wider study of the functioning of major research programs. It is noted in the article that the broadest category characterizing the positive aspects of work was the notion of "subjective well-being." It embraces aspects of work such as professional growth, the goals and intentions of staff, and relationships with co-workers. The Hawthorne experiments put forth the basis for the research, which subsequently led to the creation of the concept of "job satisfaction." However, the article notes that the analysis of the results, obtained by a number of researchers, has shown that not everyone is able to identify a strong positive correlation between satisfaction and various aspects of the working environment. Authors of numerous studies have concluded that there is a weak correlation between satisfaction and the work environment. They see the causes of the unreliability of the results collected during the practical research not only in the flaws of the concept of "job satisfaction", but also in the methods of evaluation. The phenomenon of asymmetrical changes in subjectively perceptible well-being according to income level is examined in the article. The author notes that the phenomenon manifests itself at the microeconomic level (in the functioning of systems of employee motivation). The phenomenon was also noticed by Taylor, and aptly designated "low-pressure work". Subsequently, it drew the attention of those researching the problem of "job satisfaction." The article concludes that the situation created in relation to "job satisfaction" will remain unchanged, while in social sciences and economics in particular, it will continue to dominate the target model of rational behavior. Current problems with the concept of "job satisfaction" brought this trend to the realization that there is a need to expand the boundaries of the study beyond classical rationality. Today, the same problem has been designated as part of the concept of "human well-being”.

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