Measuring quality of life in theory and in practice: a dialogue between philosophical and psychological approaches

Bioethics. 1992 Jul;6(3):201-17. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8519.1992.tb00198.x.

Abstract

Measuring quality of life is of concern to both philosophers and psychologists, yet the two disciplines typically approach the question in very different ways, ways so diverse that it may look as if they are engaged in such disparate activities that no dialogue between them is possible. In this paper we aim to construct the beginnings of a dialogue between the two disciplines which will show how they could serve each other and yet also show how, from the dialogue, difficult and previously unconsidered issues emerge for both sides.

MeSH terms

  • Bioethical Issues
  • Bioethics
  • Child
  • Communication
  • Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities
  • Disabled Persons
  • Eugenics
  • Euthanasia, Passive
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic*
  • Health Care Rationing
  • Homicide
  • Human Characteristics
  • Humans
  • Individuality
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Interdisciplinary Communication*
  • Interprofessional Relations*
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Patient Selection
  • Personhood
  • Persons with Mental Disabilities*
  • Philosophy*
  • Psychology*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Resource Allocation
  • Value of Life