ABSTRACT
This chapter acquaints the reader with the diverse conceptualizations of well-being and human needs theory in development. The first section covers the origins of well-being as a concept in development. The second section presents the central theoretical approaches to well-being, the most central classifications and new trends in conceptualization. The third section examines the human needs discourse and shows why and how an account of human needs can be interpreted as an approach to well-being. The conclusion presents three issues that should be researched further in development ethics: securing well-being over time, the social dimensions of well-being, and the interconnectedness of elements of well-being.
