What does eudaemon mean?
A eudaemon (also spelled eudemon) is a good or benevolent spirit that, in ancient Greek belief, attended a particular person and guided their welfare and fortunes. The term derives from Greek roots meaning literally "good spirit," and it stands at the heart of one of philosophy's most influential ideas: eudaimonia, the flourishing or true happiness that Aristotle identified as life's highest aim. In classical usage, a person's eudaemon could be thought of as a guardian presence — Socrates famously described an inner divine voice that steered him away from error. In extended modern use, the word can describe any benign influence or source of well-being. It is a formal, literary word, encountered chiefly in writing about classical philosophy, religion, or intellectual history. Its opposite is the cacodemon, a malevolent spirit. Knowing it illuminates both ancient spirituality and the vocabulary of human flourishing.
nounA good or benevolent guardian spirit; in classical Greek belief, a guiding divinity attendant upon a person and responsible for their welfare. More broadly, a source of happiness or well-being.
- In classical Greek religion: a good or benevolent spirit attending a person and guiding their fortunes.
- A source of happiness or well-being.
"The Stoics imagined each person attended through life by an unseen eudaemon."
"Ancient Greeks believed each individual was watched over by a personal eudaemon."
"Her mentor proved to be something of a eudaemon throughout her difficult early career."
Regular plural; occasionally Latinized as "eudaemones" in very learned contexts.
"The vase paintings depict household eudaemons blessing the family."
Socrates claimed his own eudaemon — an inner divine voice — warned him only when he was about to go wrong, never telling him what to do.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of eudaemon
Eudaemon comes from the Greek eudaimōn, meaning "happy" or "fortunate" but literally "having a good spirit," from eu- ("good") plus daimōn ("spirit" or "divine power"). English borrowed the word in the late 16th to early 17th century, largely through Latin scholarly writing about classical religion and philosophy. The same Greek root underlies eudaimonia, eudaemonism, and eudaemonic on the positive side, and cacodemon (from kakos, "bad") as its antithesis.
How eudaemon is actually used
Formal and literary register. The spelling "eudemon" is an accepted variant, though "eudaemon" preserves the original Greek diphthong. The word appears most often in discussions of classical philosophy, especially Aristotle's ethics.
Easily confused with eudaemon
A daemon is any attendant spirit or, in computing, a background process, whereas a eudaemon specifically denotes a good or benevolent one.
Eudemonia (or eudaimonia) refers to the state of flourishing or true happiness itself, while a eudaemon is the benevolent spirit associated with it.