Embodied universalism: An Aristotelian perspective for evaluating the good life

In this conceptual and methodological contribution, we focus on indicators of the good life and examine how an embodied form of universalism in qualitative and quantitative methods of evaluating the good life may be promoted. We aim to explore what type of universalism can align with a localized understanding of the good life. To achieve our purpose, we propose a gnoseological and ethical framework, grounded in an Aristotelian perspective. This framework supports a universalist goal while avoiding the homogenization often linked to the commensuration process. Our study main results consists in an ethical and gnoseological framework for understanding the good life based on 4 principles: (1) considering plural dimensions of the good life (not just well-being) as a purpose, (2) analyzing the plurality of causes and effects, (3) identifying sufficient thresholds (rather than focusing solely on exponential growth), and (4) practicing evaluation as an art for citizens (instead of mere calculations by technical experts). We emphasize how indicators based on our framework can foster collective reflection on values, rather than reducing qualitative aspects to quantitative measures. While the embodied universalism highlighted in this paper helps avoid some of the pitfalls of abstract universality, this art of composition required for evaluating the good life implies both to respect these universal principles and to adopt a tailor-made evaluation process to embody the approach in each specific context.