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🏛️ Government support system 💭 Well-being philosophy
welfarism

welfarism

8.1
The idea that we should judge actions by how they affect people's well-being
  • noun
  • /ˈwɛlˌfɛrɪzəm/
  • Formal
translation icon : bienestarismo
  • This he launches not from the right of the welfare state but from the left of it, brilliantly anticipating such contemporary leftist critics of welfarism as Foucault.

Examples

  • Critics argue that welfarism focuses too much on government support instead of fostering personal responsibility.

  • The rise of welfarism has sparked a debate about the role of government in ensuring citizens' well-being.

  • Many political leaders advocate for welfarism, believing that social programs improve overall community health.

Synonyms

eudemonism
vswelfarism
  • Formal
9.9

An idea that actions are right when they help a person live a happy life guided by reason

focuses only on outcomes for welfare regardless of how those outcomes are achieved

Antonyms

indifference
71 4.6

Lack of interest or concern about something

self-interest
49 4.0

Wanting what is best for you and not caring about others

Surface Forms

welfarism singular
welfarisms plural

Morphology

welfarism = welfare (semi-transparent) = welfare + ism

Formed from 'welfare' + '-ism' (doctrine/position), but the specialized normative/philosophical sense ('judge actions solely by welfare') is a technical use that may not be obvious to all learners.

Etymology

The word welfarism comes from welfare ('well-being') and the ending -ism ('a belief'), similar to socialism or capitalism. That is why welfarism can mean the idea that actions or policies should be judged by how much they improve people's well-being.