Eudaimonia and Makariotēs in the Letter to Menoeceus

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    This thread is for cross-referencing and further discussion on the blog article:

    Blog Article

    Eudaimonia and Makariotēs in the Letter to Menoeceus

    Eudaimonia and Makariotēs in the Letter to Menoeceus

    Blog article by Kalosyni - The following is based on material developed for the Epicurean Ethics study group

    1.1 Eudaimonia (εὐδαιμονία): Happiness and Well-being

    Among the surviving writings of Epicurus, the Letter to Menoeceus provides a summary of his ethical philosophy. At the heart of the letter stands the Greek word eudaimonia (εὐδαιμονία), commonly translated as "happiness," "well-being," or "human flourishing." The Greek term eudaimonia…
    Kalosyni
    May 30, 2026 at 4:11 PM
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    Quote from Kalosyni

    For Epicurus, happiness is not a temporary feeling of pleasure or excitement but a stable condition of living well. In Epicurean thought, it refers to a life that is complete, satisfying, and free from suffering. It is not merely an emotion but an enduring state of flourishing.

    In regard to "free from suffering" that does not mean totally free, right, because we have the example of Epicurus bring happy on his last days while still under great pain?

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    FWIW (from my Menoikeus commentary)

    μακάριον

    This word is often translated as "blessed, fortunate, wealthy, 'well-off.'" There appears to be no certain etymology of the root [makar] or the longer form [makarios/on]. It appears to possibly have something to do with being wealthy, either literally or figuratively. Taking Ancient Mythology Economically by Morris Silver has a very interesting section on the origins of the word. This is yet another example of the inadequacy of using one word to translate from one language to another.

    See also

    Taking Ancient Mythology Economically
    books.google.com

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