|
옛날의 행복이나
오늘날의 행복
차이가 없어보인다
eudaimonia
[jùːdimóuniə|-dai-]
행복,
복리 (福利)
행복을 싫어하는 사람은 없다.
속새를 떠나 은둔과 명상의 삶을 사는 사람들 (특히 종교인) 또한
행복 추구를 하다가 속세를 떠났으나
보통 사람과 다른 의미를 찾아서 '행복'을 좇는 것이라고 생각한다.
그런데 그 행복을 우리와 거리가 먼 Greece 사람들이
(특히 수 천년 전에 살더 철학자)정의한 행복을 우리의 것으로
삼고 있음이 신기할 (?) 정도다.
오늘의 주제어인 eudaimonia가 그렇다.
이 낱말은 그리스어 eu (good) + daimōn (guardian / 보호자, genius / 천재)이므로
행복이란 좋은 안내자 또는 천재에게서 얻는다는 뜻인 모양이다.
또 다른 해석도 있다.
eu (좋은) lesser god (작은 신 /神) 또는 guiding spirit (수호영 / 守護靈)
다시말해서 우리의 행복이나 복리는 인간에게서 올 수 없고
신들 (그리스도교에서 생각하는 하나님이 아닌)이나
영적 존재가 베푸는 (?) 특혜라는 뜻이다.
Stoicism has become extremely popular in the last decade, particularly
as a kind of ‘self-help’ philosophy.
스토익 철학은 (300 BC) (오래된 철학의 한 부류이지만)
불과 2ㅡ30년 전에 '자립의 철학'한 종류로 보편화 했다.
Many of its philosophers often deal with questions of happiness, and their path to achieving EUDAEMONIA (또는 EUDAIMONIA / an ancient Greek term that roughly translates to “happiness”)
has much in common with 21st century mindfulness movements.
그 주장의 철학자들은
행복으로 번역된 고대 그리스의 eudaimonia 를
얻기 위한 길을 다룬 것이 21세기에 들어와서
마음가짐 운동으로 대중적이 되었다.
(Psychology Today, November 8, 2023)
실제로 eudaimonia 라는 낱말은 잘 쓰이지 않다가
2,000년대에 들어와 아주 많이 사용되고 있다.
구체적으로 설명하면
The word or phrase EUDAIMONIA refers to a happines
(especially in the philosophy of Aristotle)
that resulting from a rational active life.
eudaimonia 라는 낱말은 합리적인 활동적 삶의
결과인 (특히 아리스토텔레스의 철학에서) 행복을 언급하고 있다.
남의 얘기하지 말고 우리와 가까이 있는 eudaimonia 이야기 ~
I try to attain EUDAIMONIA by fulfilling my potentiality.
나는 내 잠래력을 충족시키므로 행복을 얻으려고 노력한다.
(인생을 접을 나이에 미래를 위한
잠재력 타령하는 것이 무모해 보이지만 ~ )
state of being happy and healthy and prosperous.
행복 (또는 복리)이라는 낱말은 행복하고 건강하며 번영의
상태로 만족하는 것이라는 뜻으로 쓰이고 있다.
(너무 단순하다고 혹평도 하지만)
happiness, esp (in the philosophy of Aristotle) that resulting from a rational active life
Forrest Talley Ph.D.
Relationship Emporium
Finding Your Way to a Happy Life
Stoicism has become extremely popular in the last decade, particularly as a kind of ‘self-help’ philosophy.
Many of its philosophers often deal with questions of happiness, and their path to achieving eudaemonia (an ancient Greek term that roughly translates to “happiness”) has much in common with 21st century mindfulness movements.
☆ Eudaimonia is a Greek word literally translating to the state or condition of 'good spirit', and which is commonly translated as 'happiness' or 'welfare'.
Mention of eudaimonia in Socrates and Plato is needed. Translating eudaimonia as 'human flourishing' is not that controversial.
eudaemonic (adj.)
also eudemonic, "producing happiness," 1856, from Greek eudaimonikos "conducive to happiness," from eudaimonia "happiness," from eu "good" (see eu-) + daimōn "guardian, genius" (see daimon). Related: Eudaimonia; eudemonia; eudaemonical.
also from 1856
Entries linking to eudaemonic
daimon (n.)
a transliteration of Greek daimōn "lesser god, guiding spirit, tutelary deity," 1852; see demon. Employed to avoid the post-classical associations of demon. Related: Daimonic.
eu-
word-forming element, in modern use meaning "good, well," from Greek eus "good," eu "well" (adv.), also "luckily, happily" (opposed to kakos), as a noun, "the right, the good cause," from PIE *(e)su- "good" (source also of Sanskrit su- "good," Avestan hu- "good"), originally a suffixed form of root *es- "to be." In compounds the Greek word had more a sense of "greatness, abundance, prosperity," and was opposed to dys-.
*da-
*dā-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to divide."
It forms all or part of: betide; daimon; Damocles; deal (v.); deal (n.1) "part, portion;" demagogue; demiurge; democracy; demography; demon; demotic; dole; endemic; epidemic; eudaemonic; geodesic; geodesy; ordeal; pandemic; pandemonium; tidal; tide (n.) "rise and fall of the sea;" tidings; tidy; time; zeitgeist.
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit dati "cuts, divides;" Greek dēmos "people, land," perhaps literally "division of society," daiesthai "to divide;" Old Irish dam "troop, company;" Old English tid "point or portion of time," German Zeit "time."
Mention of eudaimonia in Socrates and Plato is needed. Translating eudaimonia as 'human flourishing' is not that controversial.
In works of Aristotle, eudaimonia was the term for the highest human good in older Greek ☆
He called it "eudemonia," that living a flourishing life.
The word or phrase eudaimonia refers to a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous.
So how does Stoicism define happiness?
happiness, esp (in the philosophy of Aristotle) that resulting from a rational active life
According to the Stoics, virtue is necessary and sufficient for eudaimonia
synonyms for eudaimonia are living well and doing well.
Aristotle meant "well-being" when he wrote that humans can attain eudaimonia by fulfilling their potential.
he called happiness (eudaemonia) a state of flourishing in the art of living
Among the ancients the Epicureans expressed all eudaemonia in terms of pleasure.
A eudaimonic approach, on the other hand, was the pursuit of personal fulfillment and a realizing of man's potential. Volunteering to help others, for example, would improve well-being because it is contributing to one's own community
Happiness is a serious business. Following the right path to happiness is key.
Posted November 8, 2023
Reviewed by Monica Vilhauer
KEY POINTS
Although everyone desires happiness, it remains elusive to many.
The path one takes to become happy determines how well he or she succeeds.
The goal is to achieve a "sticky happiness" — a happiness that has deep roots.
Source: averie woodard / Unsplash
Source: averie woodard / Unsplash
Although everyone wants a happy life, a good many people spend most of their time being unhappy.
They're stuck in jobs they dislike, relationships they resent, holding grudges that weigh them down, and swept up on a life course they never expected.
They become unhappier with the passage of each year.
Perhaps you can sympathize. After all, nearly all of us have had times when life was headed in the wrong direction, and happiness was about as easy to find as an honest bio on Bumble.
article continues after advertisement
When stuck in this rut, many people are confused about how to make things better.
The root cause of this confusion is often due to their embracing the idea that happiness is found by satisfying one’s most immediate desires.
More money, different sex partners, approval by others, greater personal freedom, a larger home, a nicer car… the list goes on.
“If only I succeed at fulfilling these longings, then I’ll be happy.”
None of these desires lead to lasting happiness when they are pursued as ends in themselves.
Something more is needed. Much more.
What is that? A meaningful life. A sense of purpose for your life. When wealth, freedom, influence, and other pleasures are divorced from a greater purpose in life, the happiness they bring is fleeting.
This has been preached by theologians for centuries, and supported by research over the past decade or more.
When the daily pleasures of life are experienced within the larger sense of a purpose-filled life, happiness becomes what we might call "sticky."
You want sticky happiness. Let’s take a brief look at how this works so you can see why it’s important, and then look at how to make some changes in your life that will lead you in the right direction.
article continues after advertisement
How You Grow Your Happiness Makes A Difference
Both pleasurable activities and meaningful activities give rise to happiness.
But happiness derived solely from pleasure has shallow roots. The frustrations and setbacks of each day easily diminish the sense of reward.
Happiness derived from living a meaningful life has deeper roots. It is not easily changed by momentary ups and downs.
Moreover, research shows that happiness built from being engaged in a purpose-driven life enhances the chances of succeeding in other areas of life as well.
The ancient Greeks referred to this type of happiness as eudaimonia.
It cannot be built through efforts aimed at the acquisition of worldly objects.
Instead, its foundation is built on wisely using one’s gifts and abilities to advance the good. This approach to life is one that Socrates talked about extensively in Plato's dialogues.
The opposite of eudaimonic happiness is hedonistic happiness. There are many forms of hedonism, but no matter the specific form, hedonism attempts to build a happy life by maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain.
These are polar opposites: seeking a meaningful purpose-driven life versus the tenacious search to maximize pleasure.
article continues after advertisement
One brings delayed rewards, the other immediate pleasures. One is difficult to pursue, the other very straightforward. The first brings deep happiness, the second brings momentary enjoyment.
One barrier to pursuing sticky happiness is the push from our modern culture to follow the hedonistic path. This is a ubiquitous message that can be found in media, sports, and entertainment.
Another barrier to pursuing sticky happiness is the difficulty many have in discerning what the higher "purpose" of their life might be. Those who belong to a community of faith generally find this much easier to identify as compared to their secular counterparts.
But even within communities of faith, many struggle with this question. Very often this is because they have not yet learned how to use their unique talents and interests in ways that advance the good (the Socratic approach).
HAPPINESS ESSENTIAL READS
3 Ways to Live With Your Past Mistakes
Looking at Cute Dog Pictures Improves Your Mental Health
What’s more, fully using one’s abilities very often involves significant pain and a sense of privation, at least in the short term. This is a challenge.
Even those born with a wellspring of musical talent, for example, will still need to devote thousands of hours of practice to master their craft.
These hours of practice will require discipline, time away from family, friends, and pleasurable activities. The road to excellence is built on the altar upon which immediate pleasures have been sacrificed.
article continues after advertisement
Tenacity and grit are put to the test. But eventually, these efforts result in the full expression of the musician’s innate abilities and the creation of sublime music. In turn, this leads to a sense of deeply rooted happiness.
Persistent effort directed at achieving a meaningful goal (usually involving the forestalling of immediate pleasures) leads to deeper and longer-lasting happiness than pleasure-directed behavior focused on immediate gratification.
How to Use These Insights to Build a Deeply Rooted Happy Life
Traveling toward a specific destination requires understanding what path you should follow. The journey to a deeply happy life is no different. Below I discuss two simple steps that will get you started.
The first step is to become clear about what deeply matters to you. Not what makes you happy in the moment, but what brings you satisfaction or joy over the long run.
These memories will, obviously, be different for each person. For some they may be camping trips wherein you taught children how to fish or pitch a tent. For others they may be days in college when you met with fellow students and excitedly discussed new ideas. A church-sponsored mission trip to build homes in a third-world country. A summer spent backpacking through Europe. An art class where your creativity was experienced more fully than ever before.
Whatever the memory, it is likely to reflect an important part of what makes you feel deeply happy (eudaimonic happiness). That’s why it can still evoke these feelings years later.
Then ask if you have other memories of a similar kind. If the answer is "yes," then it’s very likely you’ve found a path towards deeper happiness.
The second step is to consider how you can regularly introduce similar activities into your current life.
The person with memories of building homes in Third World countries might sign up for another mission trip. But if the memory was meaningful primarily for having helped others (rather than being engaged in building something) they may also decide to volunteer at the local soup kitchen.
The person whose memories focused on teaching children how to fish and pitch a tent might do well to put a similar effort into teaching his (or her) grandchildren these skills. No grandchildren yet? Then offering free classes for the local Parks and Recreation might be the answer.
No matter what memories you discover linked to purpose-driven happiness, the approach is the same. How can you take the elements that make that memory so meaningful (altruism, teaching the next generation, sharing your gift of creativity, etc.) and employ them in your life now?
Conclusion
To become deeply happy you must focus your efforts on living a meaningful purpose-driven life. This is often difficult. It requires sustained effort and sacrifice. But the longer you apply yourself to the task the more it becomes a part of the fabric of life, and with it, a profound sense of well-being