What does eudaemonism mean?
Eudaemonism is a philosophical position in ethics which maintains that happiness — understood not as fleeting pleasure but as genuine human flourishing — is the highest good and the ultimate aim of moral life. The word derives from the Greek 'eudaimonia', a term central to Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, where it denotes a life of virtuous activity in accordance with reason. Unlike hedonism, which identifies the good with pleasant sensations, eudaemonism holds that well-being encompasses virtue, rational activity, and the fulfilment of one's human potential. In contemporary moral philosophy the concept underlies much of virtue ethics, and it continues to inform debates about what makes a life genuinely worth living. Though formal in register, eudaemonism captures an enduring intuition: that morality and human thriving are deeply intertwined.
nounA system of ethics that holds that happiness or human well-being (eudaimonia) is the highest good and the proper aim of moral action. It is especially associated with Aristotle's view that the good life consists in flourishing through virtuous activity.
- The ethical doctrine that happiness or human flourishing is the highest good and the criterion of moral conduct.
"Her ethical outlook was a form of eudaemonism, holding that a virtuous life and a happy life are ultimately one and the same."
"Eudaemonism holds that moral actions are those that promote genuine human flourishing rather than mere momentary pleasure."
"In her lecture on ancient philosophy, she traced how Aristotelian eudaemonism shaped later theories of virtue ethics."
Rarely pluralised; the word normally appears as an uncountable mass noun referring to the doctrine generally.
"Different schools of ancient ethics defended rival eudaemonisms, each identifying flourishing differently."
For Aristotle, being happy wasn't about feeling good — it was about living well, and he built an entire ethical system, eudaemonism, on that idea.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of eudaemonism
Eudaemonism derives from the Greek 'eudaimonia', meaning 'happiness' or 'well-being', literally 'good-spiritedness', formed from 'eu-' ('good') and 'daimōn' ('spirit' or 'guardian deity'). The term entered English philosophical vocabulary in the early modern period as scholars systematised ancient Greek ethics, particularly Aristotle's account of flourishing as the goal of human life. Cognates include 'eudaemonic', relating to well-being, and the more general English word 'demon', which descends from the same Greek root 'daimōn'.
Related word forms
How eudaemonism is actually used
A formal, philosophical term used chiefly in academic discussions of ethics. The variant spelling 'eudaimonism' is also common, particularly in translations of Greek philosophical texts.
Easily confused with eudaemonism
Hedonism equates the highest good with pleasure, whereas eudaemonism equates it with overall flourishing or well-being, which may include virtue beyond mere pleasure.