In the late 1970's, a group of UCSC students were drawn together in a monumental effort to predict the unpredictable. Their goal was to achieve happiness (and a little financial security) for themselves and their friends via the roulette wheels of Las Vegas. They called themselves The Eudaemons, which stems from their eudaemonic philosophy...
eu-dae-mo-nism n. [Gk eudaimonia happiness, fr. eudaimon having a good attendant spirit, happy, fr. eu- + daimon spirit](1827): a theory that defines moral obligation by reference to personal well-being through a life governed by reason.
-- Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary
Thomas A. Bass, a UCSC graduate, brought the efforts of the Eudaemons to the attention of the world in his book, The Eudaemonic Pie, first published in 1985.
- -- Dr. Edward Thorp, author of Beat the Dealer
The success of the Eudaemons' project was based on pioneering research in non-linear dynamics at UCSC's Physics Department. Modeling and predicting the behavior of a roulette wheel was one of the most unusual and exciting applications of knowledge from this field.
Last modified 14-Jun-97