what is eudaimonia

what is eudaimonia

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Nature

Eudaimonia is a Greek word that translates to the state or condition of good spirit, and is commonly translated as happiness or welfare. It is a central concept in Aristotelian ethics and subsequent Hellenistic philosophy, along with the terms aretē (most often translated as virtue or excellence) and phronesis (practical or ethical wisdom). Here are some key points about eudaimonia:

  • Eudaimonia is the highest human good in older Greek tradition, according to Aristotle.
  • It is the aim of practical philosophy-prudence, including ethics and political philosophy, to consider and experience what this state really is, and how it can be achieved.
  • Eudaimonia is not just a state of mind or a feeling of pleasure or contentment, as "happiness" (as it is commonly used) implies. Instead, it is the only human good that is desirable for its own sake (as an end in itself) rather than for the sake of something else (as a means toward some other end).
  • Eudaimonia consists of activity of the soul in accordance with “perfect” or “complete” virtue, by which Aristotle meant all the virtues, both intellectual and moral.
  • Eudaimonia is an activity (or a range of activities) rather than a state, and it necessarily involves the exercise of reason.
  • The intellectual and moral virtues or excellences of which eudaimonia is constituted are not innate talents or quickly acquired forms of knowledge but rather are abiding traits that arise only through long habituation, reflection, and the benefits of appropriate social experiences and circumstances.

In summary, eudaimonia is a Greek term that refers to the state of good spirit or happiness, but it is much more than just a feeling of pleasure or contentment. It is the highest human good that is desirable for its own sake, and it consists of activity of the soul in accordance with complete virtue.

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