In Well-Being and Theism, William Lauinger defends a new and provocative theory of human well-being-the desire-perfectionist view. His account draws on insights from the objective list and desire-fulfillment traditions, while challenging key assumptions of these views. In this way, Lauinger seeks to move beyond the long-standing impasse between these approaches and break new ground with his own theory. As his argument progresses, Lauinger introduces several distinctions which will be of interest to all theorists of well-being. He also connects the well-being debate to recent developments in psychology, metaethics, and the philosophy of religion. Full of examples from everyday life, Lauinger's volume is a pleasure to read and a welcome contribution to the well-being debate. -- Christopher M. Rice, Fordham University, USA
William Lauinger presents an even-handed, comprehensive examination of the concept of human well-being. He is to be commended for tackling this commonly misunderstood and inadequately represented topic. He helps make excellent sense of how the well-being of humans is genuinely secured in their finding God to be the ultimate source of true happiness. -- Paul Copan, Professor and Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics, Palm Beach Atlantic University, USA
Professor Lauinger makes two very important contributions to the philosophical literature on well-being. He argues in detail that the correct understanding of well-being is neither an objective list nor a desire account, but a hybrid position-the desire-perfectionism theory-that encompasses both. And he provocatively maintains that this theory, in particular its contention that most of us desire the basic objective goods, requires a metaphysics and that defending either evolutionary or Aristotelian approaches pushes us towards theism. Anyone concerned with the recent debates about the nature of well-being should read this carefully written and well argued book. -Christopher W. Gowans, Professor of Philosophy, Fordham University
