What does eudaimonism mean?
Eudaimonism is an ethical theory holding that the ultimate aim of human life is eudaimonia — a Greek term usually translated as happiness, flourishing, or living well. Associated most closely with Aristotle, it maintains that the goodness of actions is measured by how they contribute to a complete, flourishing life rather than to pleasure (as hedonism claims) or to duty alone (as deontological theories claim). On this view, virtue, practical wisdom, and the exercise of our distinctive human capacities are not merely means to happiness but constituents of it. The term belongs mainly to academic philosophy and appears in discussions of ancient ethics, virtue theory, and positive psychology's intellectual roots. Its older variant spelling, eudemonism, reflects Latinized transmission of the Greek. For readers encountering moral philosophy, eudaimonism names one of the major frameworks for answering the question of what makes a life go well.
nounA philosophical doctrine, associated chiefly with Aristotle, that holds that the highest human good is eudaimonia — happiness or flourishing understood as living well and doing well — so that right action is judged by its contribution to a flourishing life.
- The ethical theory that human well-being or flourishing (eudaimonia) is the highest good and the standard by which actions are judged.
"For Aristotle, eudaimonism placed human flourishing rather than duty or pleasure at the center of ethics."
"Critics of Kantian ethics sometimes argue that eudaimonism better captures why we value moral character."
"Her dissertation examined how Stoic eudaimonism differs from Aristotle's account of the good life."
Rarely pluralized; used only when contrasting distinct versions or schools of eudaimonist ethical theory.
"Ancient eudaimonisms differ considerably on whether contemplation or virtuous activity constitutes the best life."
The ancient Greeks didn't think of happiness as a feeling — for Aristotle, eudaimonia was something you achieve by living excellently, more like 'thriving' than 'feeling good'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of eudaimonism
Eudaimonism derives from Greek 'eudaimonia', from 'eu-' meaning 'good' or 'well' plus 'daimōn' meaning 'spirit' or 'guardian divinity' — literally a state of being favored by a good spirit, hence blessed or fortunate. The Greek term was central to Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics in the 4th century BCE, where it named the final good at which all human action aims. English adopted the word via scholarly engagement with Greek philosophy, alongside the related adjective 'eudaemonic'; the spelling 'eudemonism' reflects medieval and early modern Latinization of the Greek diphthong.
Related word forms
How eudaimonism is actually used
Eudaimonism is a technical term of academic philosophy and ethics; it rarely appears in casual conversation. It carries no strong connotation beyond its scholarly sense. Spelling varies: both 'eudaimonism' (from transliterated Greek 'dai') and the older Latinate 'eudemonism' are found in print, though the former is now more common in contemporary philosophy.
Easily confused with eudaimonism
Hedonism identifies the good with pleasure or the absence of pain, whereas eudaimonism identifies it with overall flourishing, which may include virtue even when it is not pleasant.
Ethical egoism holds that one ought to pursue one's own self-interest, while eudaimonism concerns what constitutes genuine human flourishing, which classical versions tie to virtue rather than mere self-benefit.