Abbreviated title: Quality of Life in therapeutic communities 1 This article has been submitted after the unexpected passing away of our beloved friend and colleague Eric Broekaert. This is one of the last manuscripts in which Eric had a very substantial part. The paper has been initiated by Eric and it can be situated in his lifelong interest in and search for the philosophical and scientific underpinning of therapeutic communities and other treatment and support models from a

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... tic point of view. Abstract i Background & Aims Although addiction is increasingly considered as a chronic problem, only a limited number of studies have addressed Quality of Life (QoL) in therapeutic communities (TC) for addictions. This reflective conceptual paper assesses the history, philosophy and background of the TC movement as "modern" concept, with roots in existentialism and phenomenology, as well as the QoL-approach as a "postmodern" concept, with a positive vision on wellbeing and happiness, grounded in Aristotelian rationalism. The paper aims to investigate how the postmodern concept "Quality of Life" could be integrated in and could go together with the modernist interpretation of evidence, values and subjects' perspectives in TC's for addictions. Methods This paper reflects on the question if and how the postmodern concept "Quality of Life" (QoL) can be integrated in therapeutic communities for addictions (TC). Results The exploration of the QoL-concept as postmodern positive approach situated in the context of TC values, facts and subjects leads to the finding that both visions can go alternatively together and fertilize each other. Conclusions Therefore, QoL, wellbeing and happiness have to be situated in the context of meaningful social interaction and education that can integrate both visions as a permanent spiral of thesis and antithesis..