Eudemonism is what? Examples of eudemonism

"Eudemonism" is a concept whose meaning is literally translated from Greek as "happiness", "bliss" or "prosperity." This ethical trend had the most numerous adherents in ancient times. Let us consider what is eudemonism, examples of the views of individual philosophers.

I would also like to draw attention to a number of similar exercises. In particular, to find out what different hedonism, eudemonism, utilitarianism.

What is eudemonism

Eudemonism is a direction in ethics, where the attainment of happiness and harmony with the surrounding world 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 to be the highest achievement.

Evdemonizm in ancient Greek philosophy

In the ethical theories of thinkers in ancient Greece, the desire for happiness was treated differently. For example, one of the apologists of the doctrine, Aristotle, believed that a sense of contentment is achieved only when striving for virtue. According to the philosopher's opinion, one should show wisdom, which consists in bliss from contemplation of the surrounding world.

In turn, Epicurus and Democritus considered happiness as inner spiritual peace. For them, all material was in the last place. Wealth considered these philosophers destructive. The thinkers throughout their whole life found satisfaction in simple food, unpretentious clothes, ordinary habitation, devoid of bombast 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 associate his theory with the need for 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 maintaining morality in society is impossible if people seek only mental and physical satisfaction. For this philosopher, the main motive of virtue was performing his own duty to society.

How eudemonism manifested itself in the New Time

In modern times, the philosophy of eudemonism was traced in the works of the French materialists. In particular, Feuerbach's ethical teaching was popular, saying that luckily even the most primitive creatures seek, which throughout life are in search of better conditions for existence. However, according to the philosopher, a person can not be completely satisfied, without the bliss of other people, in particular, those whom we love. Therefore, for selfish reasons, 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 complex concept. Today, philosophical teachings define happiness as a positive assessment of a person's own vital activity. At the same time, there is always fear, a tense internal struggle with oneself, as well as suffering that arise throughout life, independent of human behavior.

Evdemonism in Buddhism

To the eudemonistic teaching in Eastern philosophy, one can safely attribute Buddhism. After all, 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 himself, fortunately all people are striving, regardless of who they are - Buddhists, Christians, Muslims or atheists. Thus, according to Buddhists, the main direction of the movement in our lives is the comprehension of inner harmony and moral satisfaction.

How eudemonism differs from hedonism

Hedonistic teaching considers the main life benefit the achievement of pleasures. Apparently, hedonism and eudemonism are theories with a similar goal.

At the origins of the presented trend in ethics was the well-known 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 somewhat differently. Western European thinkers considered the doctrine within the framework of religion. The philosophers of this time saw satisfaction not in personal goods, but in submission to the higher divine will.

Utilitarianism

What are similar teachings like eudemonism, utilitarianism? 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 Jeremiah Bentham. It is this thinker who is the developer of the fundamentals of utilitarian theory.

According to his wording, eudemonism is the pursuit of moral behavior, which 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 . Proceeding from the latter, a person must satisfy his personal interests intelligently, in relation to public benefit. In this case, the interests of the individual will be combined with the interests of others.

Finally

Apparently, 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 happiness and happiness of close people.

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 is impossible to achieve moral satisfaction without the virtue of man. In turn, according to the Buddhist teachings, only those who managed to achieve an external and internal state of serenity can be happy.

Today, eudemonism is one of the foundations of so-called positive psychology. Surprisingly, this trend leads its history from the ethical teachings of ancient Greek thinkers, and its provisions remain relevant in modern times.