Empathy, Welfare and the Welfare State

The word welfare is used within a wide range of contexts and among diverse fields of study. Consequently, the definition, description and usage of the term vary immensely and often leads to confusion and contradictions. In the context of the present discussion however, the economists’ view of welfare presents as the most relevant. One of the earliest connections between the field of economics and welfare was presented by the English economist Alfred Marshall (1842–1924) who in his iconic book Principles of Economics had defined economics as “a study of mankind in the ordinary business of life; it examines that part of individual and social action which is most closely connected with the attainment and with the use of the material requisites of wellbeing” (Marshall, 2013, p. 1). Marshall’s definition, while relating economics to welfare, had introduced an empathic dimension to the study of economics; his concept of economics did not primarily involve a study of money and wealth but instead focused on the study of mankind. The approach prioritized a study of the manner in which humans make a living through the income they earn and the use of that income in their welfare (wellbeing and welfare in this case could be used as synonyms). Thus, Marshall’s definition of economics predominantly involved the understanding of common people and their material welfare and is generally referred to as the welfare definition of economics. Marshall’s ideations revolved around the philosophy that the only function of wealth should be the benefit of mankind and that the true value of wealth can be judged only by its capacity to improve wellbeing (Nishizawa, 2021). It was in this regard that Marshall’s thoughts had a deep empathic connection to people and their plight with a view to improve the quality and standards of human life, thus connecting his concept of welfare closely to empathy.