The Founding Ideals
Ideal
Pursuit of Happiness
“We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain unalienable rights, that
among these are life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness.”
Definition
Not merely the pursuit of
pleasure, property, or self
interest, but also the freedom
to make decisions that result in
the best life possible for a human
being.”
Source: www.pursuit-ofhappiness.org/history-ofhappiness/john-locke/
Influence of the Ideal
In 1776 and Today
1776: “The traditional American philosophy
teaches that the words "Life" and "the pursuit of
Happiness," as used in the Declaration of
Independence, are so inclusive as to defy precise
definition. This is because they mean the right to
Life to be lived, and Happiness to be sought, in
keeping with the fundamentals of Man's Liberty
against Government-over-Man, according to
each Individual's own goals, tastes, aspirations
and ideals which are themselves in an everchanging state of development--from childhood
to life's end.”
Source:
http://www.lexrex.com/enlightened/AmericanId
eal/yardstick/pr8.html
Today: The concept still appears to mean
different things to different people. What makes
some people happy may, in fact, make other
people upset. For example, just look at our
current political situation.
Property
- not mentioned in the
Declaration of Independence
Something owned or possessed;
the exclusive right to possess,
enjoy, and dispose of a thing;
something to which a person or
business has a legal title
Source: www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/property
1776: “The right to property is accordingly
considered not an end, in and of itself, but an
indispensable means needed to sustain Life itself
and for the protection and fuller enjoyment of
the rights to Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness. The right to property is, therefore, of
critical importance to Free Man, whether
considered as a supporting right or--as some in
1776 occasionally referred to it--as an
unalienable right, a Natural Right.”
Source:
http://www.lexrex.com/enlightened/AmericanId
eal/yardstick/pr10.html
Today: The gaining of property (cars, houses,
consumer goods, land, etc.) still appears to be a
fundamental goal of most Americans. Is the
quest for a lot of property all good? Can it ever
be bad?