eudaemonism

Eudaemonism suggests that true happiness is achieved through a life of virtuous activity and personal growth.

Definition

1. Noun (uncountable):
   • Philosophical doctrine: "eudaemonism" is the ethical theory that holds happiness or well-being (eudaimonia) as the highest good and the ultimate goal of human life. It asserts that actions are morally right if they promote one's own genuine flourishing and fulfillment.

Usage Examples

• (The doctrine prioritizes sustained well-being over transient enjoyment.)
• (The philosophical system is grounded in virtue ethics.)
• (A common objection to the theory.)

Advanced Usage

• "Eudaemonistic calculus": a hypothetical method for measuring and comparing different forms of well-being.

  • Utilitarians often reject a purely eudaemonistic calculus because it ignores pleasure's intensity. (A technical term in moral philosophy.)

• "Psychological eudaemonism": the descriptive claim that humans naturally seek their own happiness as a primary motive.

  • Psychological eudaemonism suggests that even altruistic acts are ultimately self-interested. (A variant of the theory applied to human psychology.)

Variants and Related Words

• Eudaemonist (n): a person who advocates or follows eudaemonism.

  • As a eudaemonist, she believes that personal flourishing is the foundation of ethics. (An adherent of the doctrine.)

• Eudaemonistic (adj): relating to or characteristic of eudaemonism.

  • The eudaemonistic approach to ethics focuses on character development and virtue. (Adjective describing the philosophical perspective.)

• Eudaimonia (n): the Greek term for happiness or human flourishing, central to eudaemonism.

  • Eudaimonia is not merely feeling happy but living a life of purpose and excellence. (The core concept in the theory.)

Synonyms

• Eudaimonism: an alternative spelling of "eudaemonism" (more common in British English).
• Well-being ethics: a modern term for theories that prioritize human flourishing.

Related Idioms

• The good life: a phrase often used in discussions of eudaemonism to describe a life of virtue and fulfillment.

  • For eudaemonists, the good life is achieved through rational activity and moral excellence. (The ideal outcome of the doctrine.)

• Flourishing as an end: a concise expression of eudaemonism's core principle.

  • Eudaemonism treats human flourishing as an end in itself, not a means to something else. (The ultimate goal of ethical action.)