Nelli Ohtli: Buen Vivir of the Ancient Nahuas
Journal
Quality of Life in Mexico : State of the Art, Dimensions, and Future Developments
ISSN
2215-0099
Publisher
Springer Nature Switzerland
Date Issued
2026
Author(s)
Oseguera Gamba, Jorge
Cuellar Moreno, José Manuel
Type
text::book::book part
Abstract
This chapter explores the conception of well-being in Nahua culture, with the aim of diversifying approaches to happiness and offering new perspectives on the Latin American paradox of happiness. This paradox describes the tendency of Latin American countries to report high levels of subjective well-being, despite their adverse socio-economic conditions. The authors argue that understanding indigenous worldviews, such as the Nahua, can shed light on the factors contributing to this phenomenon. The study is based on the analysis of historical documentary sources in Nahuatl, Spanish and Latin, complemented by current ethnographic studies. Pre-Hispanic texts, accounts by chroniclers such as Sahagún and Durán, as well as contemporary research on Nahua philosophy and education, are examined. Unlike Western conceptions of well-being, which tend to focus on material progress, the Nahua conceived the good life as a dynamic equilibrium in an unstable world (nepantla). Their worldview was based on a dialectical polar monism, in which reality is conceived as a constant back-and-forth of complementary opposites (life/death, order/chaos, light/darkness). This perspective avoided fixed dichotomies between good and evil, promoting instead an ethic of balance and adaptation. The Nahua conceived of well-being as a well-rooted path (nelli ohtli), paved with discipline, respect and community. Their moral education emphasised character formation (in ixtli, in yóllotl - face and heart), self-discipline and respect for nature, community and ancestors. This sense of collectivity and the importance of friendship (icniuhyotl) were key to coping with the uncertainty of life. This chapter offers an alternative look at well-being, rescuing Nahua wisdom to rethink current models of happiness and quality of life in Latin America. ©The author © Springer.
License
Acceso Restringido
How to cite
Oseguera Gamba, J., & Cuellar Moreno, J. M. (2026). Nelli Ohtli: Buen Vivir of the Ancient Nahuas. In Social Indicators Research Series (pp. 293–312). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-14819-3_12