Eudaimonia (εὐδαιμονία, [juːdeɪˈmoʊniə]) is a concept from Ancient Greek philosophy. Its simplest equivalent can be given as "good living", "a person realizing their potential and living a meaningful and virtuous life."
Especially for Aristotle, eudaimonia is not pleasure or momentary happiness, but living well and successfully in terms of the whole of life.
In Short:
- Happiness ≠ Eudaimonia
Eudaimonia is not just "feeling good." - Virtue-centered
Living by developing virtues such as justice, courage, temperance, and wisdom is important. - A way of life rather than a result
It is closer to "I am living a good life" than "I became happy." - Realizing one's potential
A person's development by using their abilities and mind correctly is the foundation of eudaimonia.
In one sentence:
Eudaimonia is not just being happy; it is "living well" by developing one's virtues, realizing one's potential, and living a meaningful life.
Eudaimonia in Modern Psychology
It seems quite close to the concept of well-being in modern psychology; however, virtue, character, and the purpose of life are much more strongly present within eudaimonia.
Pronunciation
You can listen to the pronunciation of eudaimonia from the audio file below: