Eudemonism - what is it? Examples of eudemonism

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:53

"Eudemonism" is a concept, the meaning of which is literally translated from Greek as "happiness", "bliss" or "prosperity". This ethical direction had the most numerous adherents in ancient times. Let's look at 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, find out how hedonism, eudemonism, and utilitarianism differ.

What is eudemonism

Eudemonism is a direction in ethics, where the achievement of happiness and harmony with the world around is considered the main goal of human life. Such ideas are the main principle of the ethics of ancient Greek philosophers. The first theses in this direction belong to the Socratic school, whose members considered the freedom of the individual and the independence of man as the highest achievement.

Eudemonism in ancient Greek philosophy

In the ethical theories of the thinkers of ancient Greece, the pursuit of happiness was considered in different ways. For example, one of the apologists of the doctrine - Aristotle - believed thata feeling of satisfaction is achieved only by striving for virtue. According to the philosopher, a person should show wisdom, which consists in bliss from contemplating the world around.

In turn, Epicurus and Democritus viewed happiness as inner spiritual peace. For them, everything material was in last place. We alth these philosophers considered destructive. The thinkers themselves, throughout their lives, found satisfaction in simple food, unpretentious clothing, ordinary housing, devoid of pomposity and luxury.

The founder of the philosophical school of Cynics - Antisthenes - also did not rule out the need for humanity to strive for happiness. However, he did not connect his theory with the need to obtain physical and moral pleasure. After all, this, in his opinion, makes a person dependent on a number of external circumstances.

Criticism of philosophical doctrine

The main critic of eudemonism in philosophy is Emmanuel Kant. He believed that the maintenance of morality in society is impossible if people strive only for spiritual and physical satisfaction. For this philosopher, the main motive for virtue was the fulfillment of one's own duty to society.

How eudemonism manifested itself in modern times

In modern times, the philosophy of eudemonism was traced in the writings of French materialists. In particular, the ethical teaching of Feuerbach was popular, who said that even the most primitive creatures who are onthroughout their lives are in search of better conditions for existence. However, according to the philosopher, a person cannot be completely satisfied without the bliss of other people, in particular, those whom we love. Therefore, out of selfish motives, a person needs to take care of loved ones in order to get a similar reaction from them. In Feuerbach's eudemonistic theory, sacrificial behavior towards 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 of a person's own life activity. At the same time, there is always a place to be fear, intense internal struggle with oneself, as well as suffering that arise throughout life, regardless of human behavior.

Eudemonism in Buddhism

Buddhism can be safely attributed to the eudemonistic teaching in Eastern philosophy. After all, the main postulate of this belief is the desire to get rid of all suffering, in other words, to achieve the so-called nirvana. Based on the words of the 14th Dalai Lama himself, 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 life is the comprehension of inner harmony and moral satisfaction.

How does eudemonism differ from hedonism

Hedonistic teachingconsiders the main good of life to be the achievement of pleasure. As you can see, hedonism, eudemonism are theories with a similar goal.

A famous ancient Greek thinker Aristippus stood at the origins of the presented trend in ethics. He believed that in the human soul there are two extreme, oppositely directed states: soft - pleasure and rough - pain. Based on the hedonistic theory of Aristippus, the path to happiness lies in achieving satisfaction and avoiding suffering.

In the medieval period, hedonism was viewed somewhat differently. Western European thinkers considered teaching 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 do such teachings as eudemonism, utilitarianism have in common? Within the framework of utilitarianism, happiness is seen as bringing benefits to society. The main postulates of the doctrine are presented in the philosophical treatises of Jeremy Bentham. It is this thinker who is the developer of the foundations of the utilitarian theory.

According to his formulations, eudemonism is the desire for moral behavior that can bring the greatest benefit to the maximum number of people. At the same time, the existence of contradictions between general and private interests remained an unresolved problem here. To resolve this conflict, within the framework of utilitarianism, a whole theory of rational egoism was created. Based on the latter, a person must satisfy his personal interests reasonably, in relation to the public good. In this case, the interests of the individual will bebe combined with the interests of others.

In closing

As you can see, eudemonism in philosophy is a direction that recognizes the main criterion of morality and the main goal of human behavior is the desire to achieve personal welfare 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 eudemonism, identified pleasure and happiness. Utilitarians believed that it was impossible to achieve moral satisfaction without the virtue of man. In turn, according to Buddhist teachings, only those who have managed to achieve an external and internal state of serenity can consider themselves happy.

Today, eudemonism is one of the foundations of the so-called positive psychology. It is surprising that this trend traces its history back to the ethical teachings of ancient Greek thinkers, and its provisions remain relevant in modern times.