Are you tired of chasing happiness, only to find it slipping through your fingers like sand? What if the secret to a fulfilling life isn't just about happiness, but something more profound? 

This blog post will take you on a journey through the wisdom of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and the Stoics to unveil what truly makes a good life. You’ll learn the philosophical concept of eudaimonia and how it differs from happiness, as well as why it is instrumental for living your best life.

But we won't stop there. I am also going to share with you five actionable tips to help you cultivate eudaimonia in your own life, transforming your pursuit of happiness into a meaningful quest for true well-being. 

So buckle up and get ready for a potentially life-changing experience, as we delve into the world of eudaimonia and discover the key to human thriving.

What Does Eudaimonia Mean? A Definition

The concept of eudaimonia first appeared in ancient Greek philosophy and is best translated as “flourishing”. Some authors choose to translate it as “happiness”, but this doesn’t quite capture the entire meaning of the word. Here’s why: happiness usually refers to a pleasurable, positive state, while eudaimonia refers to the fulfillment you feel when you are doing something meaningful which may not be pleasurable in the short term. 

Etymologically speaking, the word “eudaimonia” itself is composed of two Ancient Greek words: “eu” which means “good” or “well”, and “daimon” which means “guiding spirit”. The combination reveals the meaning of the compound: “good spirit” in the sense of having a good inner state. 

Although most scholars would pinpoint Aristotle as the main promoter of the concept of eudaimonia as we understand it today, the idea was already prevalent in Greek philosophy before him. Socrates and later Plato discuss it as well, with a few key differences between them (more on that later).

How does Eudaimonia differ from happiness? Hedonia vs. Eudaimonia

Eudaimonia and happiness are often used interchangeably, but they represent distinct concepts. The dichotomy between the two is sometimes expressed as hedonia vs. eudaimonia. You already know what eudaimonia is, so let’s explain the other term. 

Hedonia refers to the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain. Etymologically, it comes from the Greek word "hedone", which means "pleasure." Hedonia is associated with satisfying desires and experiencing positive emotions, but is often short-lived and focused on immediate gratification.

In contrast to eudaimonia, which represents a profound and enduring sense of fulfillment, hedonia represents a more superficial and temporary form of happiness. It’s important to note that having reached hedonia does not guarantee that one will graduate towards eudaimonia, but the opposite seems to be true: people who are flourishing experience a plethora of positive emotions as a side-effect of their lasting happiness.

(For a comparison between Stoicism and epicureanism, check out this post. You might also be interested in the comparison between Stoicism and hedonism.)

Is Eudaimonia Unique to Humans?

Although well-being appears to be accessible to all living things, the concept of eudaimonia is unique to humans because it relates to ethical behavior and the exercise of reason, both of which are distinctly human capabilities. 

Unlike other living beings, humans possess the cognitive and emotional capacity to reflect on their actions and engage in complex moral reasoning, which enables us to discern which choices align with our values and which don’t.

Although some of them are highly intelligent, other living beings rely mostly on their instincts to decide how to behave at any given moment, so their actions cannot be judged through the lens of morality. It follows that they cannot intentionally pursue eudaimonia, as it is a feeling that transcends mere physical or emotional satisfaction and requires reasoning to comprehend. 

How Does Aristotle Define Eudaimonia?

In his work, “The Nicomachean Ethics”, Aristotle explores the nature of happiness, virtue, and practical wisdom, in an attempt to provide a framework for living a fulfilling and morally excellent life.

For Aristotle, eudaimonia is the ultimate goal of human life - which he calls the highest good - and consists of living in accordance with the 4 virtues (wisdom, courage, temperance and justice) and with reason. 

Striving for eudaimonia necessarily implies a lifelong pursuit of personal growth and moral excellence as opposed to the relentless chasing of temporary pleasure.

In addition to following the virtues, Aristotle emphasizes the need for practical wisdom (phronesis) in achieving eudaimonia. In this context, practical wisdom represents the ability to make the right decisions in various life situations by balancing moral considerations and personal desires.

Eudaimonia According to Plato

For Plato, eudaimonia is also achieved by living a life of virtue, wisdom, and justice, but his view of human flourishing differs from that of Aristotle in a few significant ways. 

To understand eudaimonia in Platonic philosophy, we must first explain the idea of the tripartite soul, presented in "The Republic”. 

Plato believes that the soul is made up of 3 parts: the rational, the spirited, and the appetitive. 

1. The rational part is responsible for our ability to think, reason, and make judgments. It seeks truth and knowledge and thus Plato considers it the highest part of the soul.

2. The spirited part is responsible for our emotions, particularly those related to ambition, pride, and moral indignation. It is the source of our willpower, courage, and sense of honor. According to Plato, this part seeks recognition and respect.

3. The appetitive part of the soul governs our instincts and desires, such as hunger, thirst etc. and is driven by our physical needs and seeks pleasure and the satisfaction of these needs.

Plato argues that eudaimonia is achieved when these three parts of the soul are in harmony, with reason ruling over the spirited and appetitive parts. This harmony leads to inner peace and the realization of the individual's highest potential.

The 4 virtues that Aristotle mentions are also present in Plato, but they are considered a by-product of the proper functioning of the 3 parts of the soul: wisdom, courage, and temperance correspond to the proper functioning of the rational, spirited, and appetitive parts of the soul, respectively. 

Justice, the fourth cardinal virtue, arises when each part of the soul performs its proper function and maintains harmony within the individual.

While both philosophers emphasize the importance of reason, Plato places greater emphasis on the rational part of the soul, which he believes should govern the other two, whereas Aristotle does not consider that either of the virtues should have precedence over the others. 

Furthermore, Plato places a higher value on contemplative life, which involves the pursuit of philosophical knowledge and the understanding of universal truths. In other words, a certain detachment from life is necessary to achieve Platonic eudaimonia, while Aristotle believes it is also achievable from life’s trenches, by applying practical wisdom and ethics in the context of everyday life.

Eudaimonia According to Socrates

Although we do not have any written sources that come directly from Socrates, his ideas on eudaimonia can be discerned from various dialogues attributed to Plato.

For Socrates, eudaimonia is closely linked to knowledge and virtue, as he believed that happiness and well-being are achieved when an individual leads a virtuous and morally upright life. According to him, knowledge is essential for virtue, as a person who truly knows what is good will naturally act in a virtuous manner. ("No one does evil knowingly.")

Additionally, Socrates also emphasized the importance of self-examination and self-knowledge in the pursuit of eudaimonia. He believed that a person must know themselves and understand the nature of their own soul to live a good life. ("Know thyself.")

Eudaimonia And Stoicism

Having reviewed the ideas of their precursors, it’s time to examine what eudaimonia means for the Stoics. As is the case with Aristotle, Stoicism argues that eudaimonia is the highest good, although not all modern authors seem to agree that this is the right way to live. 

Flourishing, according to the Stoics, is impossible without understanding what is within our control and what is not. Our own thoughts, judgments, and actions are within our control, while external events, circumstances, and other people's actions are beyond it.

For a Stoic, living in accordance with nature is also a necessary precondition for achieving eudaimonia. (Hint: no tree-hugging is required, read this post to find out what they actually meant by ‘nature’.)

Central to Stoic eudaimonia is the idea that our judgments and reactions to events, rather than the events themselves, determine our happiness. The Stoics believed that by cultivating rationality and practicing indifference to external circumstances, we can achieve inner peace and contentment regardless of the challenges we face. In other words, by following Stoic teachings, it is possible to live a good life no matter how objectively bad it may seem, for you always maintain your ability to attain moral excellence.

5 Ways to to Pursue Eudaimonia Instead of Chasing Happiness

Now that you understand the concept of eudaimonia and why it's more important than chasing happiness, let's explore five simple and actionable ways to pursue it. 

These tips are based on the insights of ancient Greek philosophers and of the Stoics, but they're just as relevant and effective today as they were 2000 years ago. By incorporating these practices into your daily life, you can cultivate inner peace and a sense of purpose that goes beyond temporary pleasures.

1. Strive for self-improvement

Maintaining a growth mindset is one of the best ways to achieve eudaimonia. Personal development - be it through reading, taking courses or pursuing challenging hobbies - will strengthen your sense of well-being and bestow meaning on your life. If you pair this with setting ambitious, but realistic goals and work on them consistently, your sense of fulfillment will be unstoppable. 

2. Cultivate virtues and ethical behavior

Keep the 4 Stoic virtues top of mind as you go through life. Every person you meet and every situation you encounter is an opportunity to practice them and build a strong character. Periodically reflect on your actions and decisions and evaluate whether you are proud of them and whether they have morally improved you.

3. Engage in purpose-driven activities

Be acutely aware of what your values are and how the activities you choose serve or hinder them. Try to spend your time in ways that align with your sense of purpose, such as volunteering for a local non-profit, pursuing a fulfilling career or advocating for a cause you care about. Limit the energy you expend pursuing entertainment or optimizing for vanity (keeping up with the Joneses). 

4. Cultivate meaningful relationships with others

There’s no way to flourish unless you have a strong social circle. That’s not just the opinion of ancient philosophers, it’s also been proven by science (this idea is explored in depth in “The Happiness Advantage” - a book I talk about here). Support, encourage, and care for the people in your life, and seek out relationships that enrich you. Don’t be afraid to let go of friendships you have outgrown and prioritize spending time with people who align with who you are today.

5. Practice mindfulness and gratitude

You don’t have to meditate in order to be mindful (although that certainly helps). Be present in the now, whether you’re enjoying it or not, because at the end of the day, your life will be the sum of all these moments strung together.

Remember to reflect on the things you’re thankful for, since it’s so easy to overlook them in the whirlwind of everyday life. We always think our lives are worse than they actually are because we only pay attention to what’s missing.

That’s all for today’s philosophy lesson. I hope you learned something new and that you’ll give eudaimonia a thought the next time you feel like pursuing pleasure and choose to do something more meaningful instead. If you enjoyed this post, you may want to read about the reserve clause in Stoicism next.