---
title: "Eudaimonia: Aristotle's Concept of Flourishing"
description: "Eudaimonia is Aristotle's highest human good—rational activity in accordance with virtue, not mere pleasure. Key to GS4 ethics and virtue-ethics analysis."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/aristotle-eudaimonia"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Eudaimonia is Aristotle's term for the highest human good, achieved through the lifelong activity of the soul exercising reason in accordance with virtue.
- Why is 'happiness' considered a misleading translation of eudaimonia?
- How does eudaimonia differ from the utilitarian conception of the good?
- What is the function argument and why does it matter?
- Why is eudaimonia relevant to UPSC GS4 and public-service ethics?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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In her 2000 book Women and Human Development, philosopher Martha Nussbaum drew on Aristotle's eudaimonia to argue that development policy should expand human capabilities for flourishing rather than maximise aggregate income.

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