WHAT IS EUDAIMONIA?

Etymologically speaking, eudaimonia is consists of Greek words “eu” which means “good” and
“daemon” which means “spirit”. This literally defines it as “the state of having good indwelling spirit; a
good genius”

Eudaimonia (also known as Eudaemonism) is a Greek word, which refers to a state of having a good
indwelling spirit or being in a contented state of being healthy, happy and prosperous. In moral
philosophy, eudaimonia is used to refer to the right actions as those that result in the well-being of an
individual. In this case, well-being becomes an essential value. In general sense, eudaimonia can be
perceived as any theory that places the personal happiness of an individual and his or her complete life
at the core of ethical concern.

On Epicurus’s Viewpoint

Epicurus (born 341 BC) was a Greek philosopher who contradicted the metaphysical philosophers. He
believed that balance and temperance were created space for happiness. His view is not more of how
happiness can be defined but more on theory about the real source to experience it. Furthermore, it
agrees with the ethical doctrine which claims pleasure is the norm of morality – hedonism but reiterates
the intelligent choice and practical wisdom to measure pleasure against pain to attain well-being.

On Nietzche’s Viewpoint

Friedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher and cultural critic who published intensively in the 1870s
and 1880s. He is known for his criticisms on psychological analyses that resulted to opposing ideas on
the people’s received ideas. As expected, Nietzsche viewed happiness in a different way. For many
philosophers, happiness could be a “constant state of well-being”, but for him, happiness is an “ideal
state of laziness”. Consequently, laziness for him is described as to not have any worries or distress in
life.

Philosophers views are the evidence of objective sense of how it means to flourish. It accepts that man’s
ultimate desire of living is to flourish and to experience a life of well-being (life that goes well for him).
Flourishing can either be based on the state of mind (e.g mental habit) or a kind of value (e.g. insights,
outlook). One’s mental habit and value towards life may deny access to experience fulfillment of life. On
the other hand, it may lead to understanding one’s function though self-actualization. Thus, it justifies
why it is difficult for a person to give exact answer if asked, “What is happiness?” which is almost the
same condition in answering the question, “What is your life’s purpose?”.