Eudemonism guides actions toward happiness, whether individual or social.
Eudemonism is a philosophical vision that justifies everything that allows us to obtain happiness . In this way, moral norms are oriented towards the development of a state of harmony and plenitude.
Path to the good life
Eudemonism also associated happiness with the combination of the animal component (the physical and the material), the rational component (the mind) and the social component (the practice of virtues). The goal of existence, according to this theory , is to be happy.
Happiness in eudaemonism, in short, is the foundation of ethics . In other theories, however, it is located as a secondary element. It is important to keep in mind, however, that even in eudaemonism there are different currents according to what is understood by happiness ( serenity , pleasure , etc.).
Furthermore, we must not forget that each individual can understand happiness differently. This can lead to certain conflicts in hierarchical organizations where higher entities are in charge of the happiness of others: from the family to the government, it is not easy to make the decisions on which the well-being of others falls . Even when we act with good will , the other party can interpret our actions in a negative way.
Due to the essence of eudaemonism, its ethics call for the full realization of happiness in earthly existence . The case of Christian ethics is different, for example, which calls for acting out of duty and with the promise of eternal happiness after death (and not on the worldly level).
Social and individual eudemonism
At a general level, eudemonism affirms that human behavior is motivated by the search for happiness . For social eudemonism , that happiness is collective, while individualistic (or individual ) eudemonism believes that happiness is personal .
Social eudemonism is oriented towards a happiness that transcends the limits of each person. Despite this, this current believes that to achieve this collective objective it is necessary that all individuals in the community enjoy well-being or be happy. Returning to the individual, it not only focuses on the happiness of each person separately, but does not look after others; This nuance is important, since it does not really direct energy towards others.
Aristotelian eudaemonism
The Greek philosopher Aristotle is considered one of the most important eudaemonists. This thinker maintained that it was necessary to have good behavior to achieve the good life : people, in this framework, had to acquire knowledge to put virtues into practice and then adopt a habit of behavior in tune with said virtues.
In other words, the Aristotelian theory of eudaemonism affirms that our behavior must be directed towards good acts, since this is how we can achieve happiness, which represents the most important objective in our species, which we pursue tirelessly throughout the world. of all life.
Sculpture of Aristotle, one of the most prominent eudaemonists
Returning to the virtues, according to Aristotle, intellectual virtues coexist with moral virtues. The former are above the latter in the hierarchical scale, and in fact direct our actions to ensure that we act prudently at every step. Supposedly, it is thanks to this organization that we can choose to do good, to commit virtuous acts.
Let's see below some examples that Aristotle conceived to illustrate the achievement of happiness through doing good:
* dedicate one's life to the teaching vocation to train the little ones and young people, preparing them to become beings who can contribute something useful to their community;
* polish one's own behavior by pursuing perfection, relying on good acts;
* Help those most in need through charitable organizations.