The Eudaimoniac

About

Welcome!

You’re probably wondering what (or who) The Eudaimoniac is.

I’m Brenna Lee, and I’m on a quest to map the human condition and understand “the good life.” The unifying subject of this blog is eudaimonia, the Greek word for happiness, or a state of flourishing. We live in a world that is increasingly anxious and unhappy —it’s my unofficial life mission to learn how we can live with greater wisdom, meaning, and happiness amidst the chaos.

I write at the intersection of philosophy and personal growth, and so I bring research into the mix whenever possible. I also do a lot of “anecdotal research” by observing and studying the lives and opinions of others: living, dead, old, young, famous, firsthand…

Just a few of my favorite thinkers include Aristotle, Søren Kierkegaard, Simone Weil, Friedrich Nietzsche, Iris Murdoch, Seneca, Montaigne, William James, and Rainer Maria Rilke — but you’ll quickly notice that I draw from literature, memoir, contemporary writers, science, religion, history, art, and more.

I’m obsessed with questions that rarely have final solutions. Questions like:

  • How do we live with uncertainty?
  • How can we know what we really want?
  • How do we find hope and meaning in a world that tries to give us trite or shallow answers — or worse yet, tells us that all is futile and pointless?

But also practical, important questions like:

The Eudaimoniac is my systematic attempt to find the answers — or the closest thing to an answer there is. It’s both practical and existential, researched and open-ended, personal yet universal. Above all, it’s a very human and humane blog. (Bonus: all the artwork is drawn by humans as well!)

If there is one message I want my readers to understand, it’s this: Seeking a life of purpose and happiness is not selfish. It’s actually one of the most important things we can do. The happier and healthier we are, the better we can help others and make a meaningful difference in the world.

But what exactly is happiness?

Illustration by Frank Ramspott

What I mean when I talk about “happiness”

It’s my opinion that a lot of the trouble we run into when we talk about “happiness” has to do with the English word itself. It’s fuzzy and broad, and people disagree on its usage. Some see happiness as a selfish or futile pursuit, at odds with finding real meaning or making the world a better place.

Of course, it all depends on your definition.

The ancient Greeks had a word, “Eudaimonia” (YOO-die-moh-nee-uh), that literally means “living with a good spirit.” It’s a way of life, not an emotional state. It’s a word that describes happiness in the deepest and fullest sense, and it’s this sense of the word that I use and embrace.

Happiness, Aristotle posits in his Nicomachean Ethics, is the one thing we choose “on account of itself and never on account of something else.” Everything we do in life is an attempt, whether wise or misguided, to attain eudaimonia.

→ I go into this in more depth here

Research in psychology and neuroscience has validated a lot of ancient wisdom about happiness and well-being. There’s a lot we’ve both learned and confirmed since Aristotle’s time. This includes things like the importance of relationships, gratitude, and being mindful — things we know intellectually but often struggle to apply.

But the question of happiness goes much deeper still than this, and honestly, the deeper questions are what excite me most. Happiness can be controversial. It touches on some of the most metaphysical aspects of life, such as:

  • What is our purpose?
  • How should we deal with suffering?
  • How do we avoid regret? Is regret always bad?
  • Do we need to be “good” to be happy?

So while I use science-based insights whenever it’s helpful and appropriate, The Eudaimoniac is ultimately a philosophical blog.

There is no easy answer to the question “What makes a good life?” and that’s okay. I’m convinced that struggle and mystery are a feature and not a bug of human existence (as you’ll see, paradoxes are a big thing in my writing!)

My goal in writing The Eudaimoniac is to help you and me live clearer, saner, and, dare I say, happier lives. I started this project two years ago, with the help and support of a small group of friends. My articles are a conversation with my readers (that includes you) meant to comfort, inspire, but also broaden our view of life. If this work makes even the smallest difference in your life, then every hour I spend writing is worth it.

The Internet can be a noisy, lonely place — but it doesn’t have to be. I’ve done my best to create a sanctuary where you can browse, read, think, respond, and return again and again.

Happy reading!

PS. If you haven’t yet, make sure you join the weekly “Nousletter.” Every Friday, I share curated wisdom and updates that you can digest in just a couple of minutes.

It’s a great way to start the weekend, plus I also often share cool information you won’t find anywhere on the blog.