Philosophy and Human Well-Being: An Afro-Constructivist Approach

This paper interrogates whether human well-being can be reduced to the satisfaction of bodily and mental needs and advances an Afro-constructivist response grounded in both African and Western philosophical traditions. It argues that genuine well-being transcends material and psychological fulfilment, encompassing moral integrity, social harmony, and ecological balance. The study mobilizes Aristotle’s eudaimonia, Kant’s moral autonomy, and existentialist reflections on meaning, while dialoguing with Ubuntu ethics, eco-bio-communitarianism (Tangwa), and Afro-constructivism (Mosima). Drawing on Cameroonian thinkers such as Fonlon, Boulaga, Mosima, Tosam, and Tangwa, the paper defends the view that development must emerge from cultural self-understanding and moral creativity rather than external prescriptions. Incorporating psychological, sociological, and anthropological insights, it conceptualizes well-being as a multidimensional, relational, and context-sensitive phenomenon. The article concludes that philosophy remains indispensable to Africa’s pursuit of holistic thriving, offering a critical lens for constructing just, inclusive, and sustainable societies. In doing so, it situates African thought within the global discourse on human well-being and presents Afro-constructivism as a viable framework for reimagining the human condition.