Community Notebook. People, Education and Welfare in the Society 5.0

CENSIS, OECD and a lesson from the past to counter misinformation and promote the well-being of democracy

2025-04-14T15:28:48+00:00

Our permeability to fake news represents a real emergence, which is bound to worsen with the advent of artificial intelligence (hereafter A.I.). Democracy is at risk of being ‘hacked’ by the rapid spread of false or misleading information, often conveyed by disinformation campaigns by domestic or foreign actors that create confusion, exacerbate polarisation, distort public policy debates, deteriorate citizens' trust in institutions and undermine the well-being of democracy.

Family associationism as a place for the promotion of the human being

2025-04-14T15:33:26+00:00

Family associationism is that particular form of associationism characterised by the initiative of families, who ‘by binding together in associative forms, play an active role in civil society, planning and implementing interventions that support them, according to a specifically family code, in the performance of daily and exceptional tasks, or made necessary by situations of particular hardship’ (Carrà Mittini, 2008:5).

These are, therefore, associative forms that respond to the needs of families and, at the same time, make possible the generative capacity proper to the family dimension. Families, if put in a position to realise their relational identity, vertically and horizontally, become bearers of the common good for the territories in which they live. Indeed, the families that promote associations put themselves at the service of the entire social fabric, in the manner proper to the relationship between genders and generations.

Well-being and participation of young leaders in rural areas of South-Western Europe. The project YouLeaders

2025-04-14T15:09:27+00:00

The current global scenario characterised by increasing complexity and the difficulty of imagining a present and a future for the generations to come is increasingly directing European policies towards researching and experimenting with intervention models that contribute to the promotion of the social, economic and environmental sustainability of territories and communities.
The need for a systemic approach to change and innovation is all the stronger in rural areas, which are local administrative communities outside urban clusters, mostly characterised by a low population density on the territory, and by a specific socio-geographical, economic and cultural configuration, which calls for the constant development of specific services for young and old resident in the territory (CoE, 2022).

WELL-BEING in the age of digital innovations: how to deal with changes in education balancing risks and opportunities

2025-04-14T15:21:06+00:00

Digital technologies have transformed and will continue to radically alter the way we live, interact, work and learn. In the educational field, the radical transformations that the use of digital technologies is bringing are becoming more distinctly evident. These transformations not only affect the physical school environments, but above all involve the pedagogical sphere; the use of technologies requires a change in the pedagogy of the teaching-learning process.

The integration of digital tools in didactics offers extraordinary opportunities to improve learning and promote students' affective and relational well-being; in fact, they enable the development of personalised learning models and spaces, where all students can progress at their own pace and according to their own needs (Barbieri, 2021).

Editorial

2025-03-28T18:04:21+00:00

With this special issue, we wanted to take a closer look at the subject of flourishing, as it is thematised within the framework of the social sciences, with the intention of offering a contribution and an interpretative key to the practical urgency of offering a transdisciplinary reflection, which puts the person at the centre as a reflective actor able to act in the world.

The term human flourishing refers to the person's ability to live the different circumstances in which human existence unfolds, making them fruitful. According to this perspective, the concept of flourishing does not define a momentary state of grace but an evolutionary path for the realisation of the person, which has as its ultimate horizon the successful outcome of existence seen as ‘whole’.

“To Repair the World” with Paul Farmer, the lawyer for the least of the Earth

2025-04-14T16:48:59+00:00

In the aftermath of the Covid 19 health crisis that has hit and battered Italy, subversive thinking such as that of the US physician and anthropologist Paul Farmer and his holistic approach to illness and the sick could be a revolutionary opportunity in the care and accompaniment of the infirm. Died in 2022, Paul Farmer fought the unbridled capitalism that has engulfed all fields of human life and endangered even the sphere of public health. Horrified by financial speculation on people's health and its social consequences of excluding the poorest from welfare, of which health is an essential component, Farmer proposes to re-imagine just public health policies at the core of which is equity and sensitivity to the suffering of others. And this is one of the reasons why reviewing one of his scholarly works is of paramount importance. Farmer's text being reviewed has a high ethical value and combines the caring professions with the urgency of realigning inequalities.

The power of emotional experience. Sociological reflections on emotions as instruments for bio-psycho-social well-being

2025-04-14T15:36:18+00:00

The power of emotional experience is central to many transdisciplinary studies, highlighting emotions as complex relational processes with “rationality” and as tools for holistic well-being. This essay examines emotion-based behaviours through classical and emotion sociology within the context of human flourishing. It also shares outcomes from two social research studies: one focusing on college students in the post-pandemic period and the other on professional supervision of social workers.

Flourishing, relationship and self

2025-04-14T15:47:59+00:00

In the knowledge society, the question of self-determination is attentive to the interacting and educational dynamics and through the terms of self, relationship and thriving new opportunities with connections can be generated, promoting pro-sociality. Rahe and Jansen (2023) noted how everyone aspires to happiness and personal well-being in relation to self-love, pro-sociality and nature.

Happiness between appearances and pitfalls

2025-04-14T16:13:08+00:00

Happiness can be imagined as the destination of an individual path, but also as the starting point towards a better existential dimension, more fulfilling, more attractive and hence more satisfying, which well represents the concept of flourishing. Human flourishing is well represented by the possibilities and opportunities for optimal functioning that connote virtue, productivity, growth and lead to the achievement of holistic well-being that is projected from the person into society, through a eudonic and eudemonic perspective.

Flourishing for well-being: the experience of counsellors

2025-04-14T16:19:23+00:00

Counseling plays a significant role in promoting and supporting flourishing. It aims to enhance an individual’s strength, educate them to pursue meaningful goals, and implement effective strategies for positive change in their daily lives. Counseling can help individuals address personal issues and improve other aspects of life, such as managing personal, professional, and family relationships. The paper presents the first results of a qualitative research on how counseling can stimulate the emergence of flourishing among individuals. Semi-structured interviews with counselor professionals are conducted to showcase innovative strategies.

Human flourishing for wellbeing in society, communities and organizations: A case study in Bangladesh

2025-04-14T16:37:08+00:00

Human flourishing refers to the holistic growth of individuals in terms of physical and mental well-being, influenced by globalization and technological advancements. It involves adapting to diverse demands, marketplaces, and environmental fluctuations. The study analyzes the relationship between engagement in arts and humanities and human well- being in Bangladesh, focusing on enhancing it for society, community, and organization. Quantitative analysis is used to analyze key aspects of human well-being across various sectors.

ChatGPT in university education: An integrated perspective for personal well-being

2025-04-14T16:45:09+00:00

The role of digital technologies in education is becoming increasingly important for both teaching and learning, affecting attention spans. This research examines university students’ views on using artificial intelligence in education, highlighting its positive aspects and the teacher’s guiding role to promote cognitive and social well-being.