"Eudaimonism" is a concept whose meaning is literally translated from the Greek language as "happiness", "bliss" or "prosperity". This ethical trend had the most numerous adherents in ancient times. Let us consider what eudemonism is, examples of the opinions of individual philosophers.
I would also like to draw attention to a number of similar teachings. In particular, to find out how hedonism, eudemonism, and utilitarianism differ.
What is eudaimonism
Eudaimonism is a direction in ethics, where the achievement of happiness and harmony with the world is considered the main goal of human life. Such ideas are the main principle of ethics of ancient Greek philosophers. The first theses in this direction belong to the Socratic school, whose members considered individual freedom and human independence to be the highest achievement.
Eudaimonism in Ancient Greek Philosophy
In the ethical theories of thinkers of ancient Greece, the pursuit of happiness was considered in different ways. For example, one of the apologists of the doctrine - Aristotle - believed that a sense of satisfaction is achieved only with the pursuit of virtue. According to the philosopher, a person should show wisdom, which consists in the bliss of contemplation of the world.
In turn, Epicurus and Democritus regarded happiness as an inner spiritual calm. For them, everything material was in last place. These philosophers considered wealth to be destructive. The thinkers themselves throughout their lives found satisfaction in simple food, unpretentious clothes, ordinary housing, devoid of pomp and luxury.
The founder of the philosophical school of cynics - Antisthenes - also did not exclude the need for humanity to strive for happiness. However, he did not connect his theory with the need for physical and moral enjoyment. After all, this, in his opinion, makes a person dependent on a number of external circumstances.
Criticism of Philosophy
The main critic of eudaimonism in philosophy is Emanuel Kant. He believed that maintaining morality in society is impossible if people will only strive for mental and physical satisfaction. For this philosopher, the main motive of virtue was the fulfillment of his own duty to society.
How did eudemonism manifest in modern times?
In modern times, the philosophy of eudaimonism was traced in the works of the French materialists. In particular, Feuerbach's ethical doctrine was popular, which said that even the most primitive creatures, who throughout their lives are in search of better conditions for existence, aspire to happiness. However, according to the philosopher, a person cannot be completely satisfied without the bliss of other people, in particular those whom we love. Therefore, from selfish motives, a person needs to take care of loved ones in order to get a similar reaction from them. In Feudalbach’s eudaimonistic theory, sacrificial behavior toward loved ones does not conflict with personal happiness.
In modern theories, eudemonism is a rather complicated concept. Today, philosophical teachings define happiness as a positive assessment by a person of his own life. At the same time, there is always a place to be fear, a tense internal struggle with oneself, as well as the suffering that occurs throughout life regardless of human behavior.
Eudaimonism in Buddhism
Buddhistism can be safely attributed to eudaimonistic teaching in eastern philosophy . Indeed, the main postulate of this belief is the desire to get rid of all suffering, in other words - the achievement of the so-called nirvana. Based on the words of the Dalai Lama XIV, all people strive for happiness, regardless of whether they are Buddhists, Christians, Muslims or atheists. Thus, according to Buddhists, the main direction of movement in our lives is to comprehend inner harmony and moral satisfaction.
How is eudemonism different from hedonism?
Hedonistic doctrine considers the attainment of pleasures as the main good of life. As you can see, hedonism, eudaimonism are theories with a similar goal.
At the source of the presented trend in ethics was the famous ancient Greek thinker Aristippus. He believed that in the human soul there are two extreme, oppositely directed states: soft - pleasure and gross - pain. Based on the hedonistic theory of Aristippus, the path to happiness is to achieve satisfaction and avoid suffering.
In the medieval period, hedonism was viewed in a slightly different way. Western European thinkers considered doctrine within the framework of religion. Philosophers of this time saw satisfaction not in personal benefits, but in submission to the highest divine will.
Utilitarianism
What similar doctrines such as eudaimonism and utilitarianism have? In the framework of utilitarianism, happiness is seen as bringing benefits to society. The main tenets of the teachings are presented in the philosophical treatises of Jeremiah Bentham. It is this thinker who is the developer of the foundations of utilitarian theory.
According to his wording, eudaimonism is a desire for moral behavior that can bring the greatest benefit to the maximum number of people. At the same time, the unresolved problem here was the presence of contradictions between general and private interests. To resolve this conflict, a whole theory of rational egoism was created within the framework of utilitarianism . Based on the latter, a person should satisfy personal interests reasonably, in relation to public benefit. In this case, the interests of the individual will be combined with the interests of others.
Finally
As you can see, eudaimonism in philosophy is a direction that recognizes the main criterion of morality and the main goal of human behavior as the desire to achieve personal good and happiness of loved ones.
There are also several similar ethical teachings, in particular hedonism and utilitarianism. Representatives of the hedonistic theory, within the framework of eudaimonism, identified pleasure and happiness. The utilitarians believed that it is impossible to achieve moral satisfaction without human virtue. In turn, according to Buddhist teachings, only one who has managed to achieve an external and internal state of serenity can consider himself happy.
Today eudaimonism is one of the foundations of the so-called positive psychology. Surprisingly, this direction dates back to the ethical teachings of ancient Greek thinkers, and its provisions remain relevant in modern times.