eudaemonist

A philosopher argues that a eudaemonist seeks happiness through virtue.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • An adherent of eudaemonism: A "eudaemonist" is a person who believes that the highest ethical goal is personal happiness or well-being, and that moral actions are those that promote one's own flourishing.
   • A proponent of happiness-based ethics: In philosophy, a "eudaemonist" specifically follows the doctrine that happiness (eudaimonia) is the ultimate criterion of moral worth.

Usage Examples

• (An adherent of happiness-based ethics.)
• (A proponent of happiness as the ultimate good.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be a eudaemonist at heart": to naturally prioritize personal flourishing in one's moral reasoning.

  • Even without formal training in philosophy, he is a eudaemonist at heart, always seeking activities that bring him lasting satisfaction. (He instinctively follows eudaemonist principles.)

• "eudaemonist tradition": the philosophical lineage that emphasizes happiness as the highest good.

  • The eudaemonist tradition includes thinkers like Aristotle, Epicurus, and later utilitarians. (The school of thought centered on happiness.)

Variants and Related Words

• Eudaemonism (n): the ethical theory that happiness is the highest good and proper aim of human life.

  • Eudaemonism contrasts with deontological ethics, which focuses on duty rather than happiness. (The philosophical doctrine itself.)

• Eudaemonic (adj): relating to or characterized by happiness or well-being.

  • The eudaemonic life is one of flourishing, not mere pleasure. (Pertaining to genuine well-being.)

• Eudaimonia (n): a Greek term often translated as "happiness" or "human flourishing," central to eudaemonist thought.

  • For Aristotle, eudaimonia is achieved through virtuous activity over a complete lifetime. (The ultimate goal of eudaemonist ethics.)

Synonyms

• Hedonist: someone who pursues pleasure as the highest good (note: hedonism is a narrower form of eudaemonism, focusing on pleasure rather than broader flourishing).
• Virtue ethicist: a philosopher who emphasizes character and virtue, often overlapping with eudaemonist views (e.g., Aristotle).
• Perfectionist: someone who believes in striving for excellence or self-realization as the moral goal (sometimes used interchangeably in ethical contexts).

Phrasal Verbs

• : "Eudaemonist" is a specialized philosophical term and does not commonly form phrasal verbs.

Related Idioms

• "Pursue one's own happiness": to act in accordance with eudaemonist principles.

  • She follows the eudaemonist maxim to pursue her own happiness, but within the bounds of virtue. (To seek personal flourishing ethically.)

• "The good life": a phrase often used by eudaemonists to describe a life of fulfillment and well-being.

  • For a eudaemonist, the good life is not about wealth but about realizing one's potential. (The ideal state of human flourishing.)