:: COMPARE ::
The short answer
Happiness is a feeling — a subjective, moment-to-moment state. Eudaimonia is a way of living well, judged across a whole life by the quality of your activity and character, not by how you feel right now.
Side by side
| Aspect | Eudaimonia | Happiness |
|---|---|---|
| Is | A way of living | A feeling |
| Timescale | A whole life | A moment |
| Measured by | Virtuous activity | How you feel |
| Can you have it and feel low? | Yes | No |
What each one means
Eudaimonia is the ancient Greek idea of human flourishing — "living well" as the highest good, achieved over a whole life of virtuous, purposeful activity rather than through momentary pleasure or good feeling.
Full definition of Eudaimonia →The contrast above sets out how Happiness differs from Eudaimonia on the points that actually matter.