Final answer:
The concept of eudaimonia goes beyond the narrow modern perception of happiness to encompass a complete sense of flourishing and well-being through virtue, fulfilling one's potential, and maintaining strong personal relationships, which cannot be fully captured by the term 'happiness'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The problem with translating eudaimonia simply as "happiness" is that it communicates a limited and imprecise understanding of the term's deeper philosophical significance. The ancient Greek concept of eudaimonia is richer than the fleeting emotional state typically referred to as happiness in modern language. Instead, eudaimonia encompasses a sense of human flourishing or well-being, grounded in the exercising of virtue and the fulfillment of one's potential.
In the philosophical traditions of Plato and Aristotle, eudaimonia relates to the concept of arête, meaning virtue or excellence, which is essential for a person to flourish in life. Virtuous action and moral character are pivotal in defining the well-being of an individual, rather than the pursuit of mere pleasure or avoidance of pain. Additionally, social aspects, like friendships of character detailed in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, are pivotal for achieving eudaimonia. While Aristotle believed that external goods and fortunes could affect one's ability to flourish, the Stoics argued that virtue alone is sufficient.
Modern philosophers like G. E. M. Anscombe have continued to explore eudaimonism, addressing its complexities and the challenges it poses for contemporary ethical theory. Considering this philosophical depth, the simple translation of eudaimonia as "happiness" fails to capture its essence—as it signifies a life lived in accordance with one's nature and full of objective goods like virtue, knowledge, and meaningful relationships.