Happiness

'Eudaemonism' is the view that Happiness is the greatest Good, and its most prominent proponent has been Aristotle. It has been less successful in the Modern era, because the two most significant Moral theories of the past several centuries have found it insufficient--Kantianism, for which only deserved Happiness has Moral worth, and Utilitarianism, for which the greatest Good is Happiness for the greatest number. Perhaps the most notable defense of Eudaemonism in this era is one that is only implied. Emotivism is best known for its Axiological linguistic thesis that 'X is Good' means nothing more than 'I like X', which, it seems to be underappreciated, amounts to the normative equating Goodness and Happiness as well. However, none of these Modern theories of Happiness have reckoned with the full import of Aristotle's concept of Happiness, namely, that it is an "activity", not a passive state. Of the Moderns, it is perhaps Nietzsche who best appreciates Aristotle's Psychological insight that Happiness lies not in that having achieved or secured one thing or another, but in the development and exercise of one's abilities. There is nothing abstruse about that insight--the enjoyment of creative activity by anyone anywhere is ample testimony to its accuracy. The Evolvemental Phronetic emphasis on Action as the ultimate bearer of Value is likewise Eudaemonistic.