Economic approaches to sustainability and quality of life. an epistemological study

The complexity and dynamics of current social and economic phenomena determined a growing body of economists to ask for a renewal of economics methods and a repositioning to the current society problems. The defining element of this new theoretical approach should probably be its multi and interdisciplinary character. By accepting and using assumptions and explanations beyond the accepted limits of purely traditional economics, quality of life studies could open a path to the new social sciences. On the other hand, such an endeavor is subject to methodological risks and pitfalls that may compromise its development. In this context, by using an epistemological approach this paper deals with a number of theories on quality of life issue in order to grasp new research methods that could be used in economics and other social sciences.