Jonah Patel
The pursuit of happiness is a well-known phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson and edited by the Committee of Five, which includes John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. It gives three examples of the unalienable rights that the Declaration says have been given to all humans by their Creator, which governments are created to protect. While the phrase is not legally binding, it has been widely referenced and seen as an inspiration for the basis of government. The pursuit of happiness has been interpreted in various ways, with some arguing that it refers to the chasing of happiness and others suggesting it means actually practicing happiness or the experience of it. Despite its absence in the US Constitution, the pursuit of happiness has played a significant role in American legal history and has been written into various state and national constitutions worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The pursuit of happiness is a natural state for humans | God-given right |
| The pursuit of happiness is an unalienable right | Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness |
| The pursuit of happiness is a right that has been widely referenced and seen as an inspiration for the basis of government | The right to be left to chart one's own course |
| The pursuit of happiness is a right that has been protected by various state and national constitutions | Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Vermont |
| The pursuit of happiness is a right that has been cited in landmark Supreme Court decisions | Meyer and Loving v. Virginia |
| The pursuit of happiness is a right that includes the freedom to engage in contracts, to hold an occupation, to learn and gain knowledge, to marry and raise children, and to demonstrate faith and participate in religion | The right to pursue one's own true and substantial happiness |
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What You'll Learn
The pursuit of happiness in the Declaration of Independence
The "pursuit of happiness" is a well-known phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence. The phrase gives three examples of the unalienable rights which the Declaration says have been given to all humans by their Creator, and which governments are created to protect. The Declaration of Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson, and then edited by the Committee of Five, which consisted of Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. It was then further edited and adopted by the Committee of the Whole of the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
The phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is not legally binding, but it has been widely referenced and seen as an inspiration for the basis of government. The "pursuit of happiness" is also mentioned in the Canadian Charter of Rights, the 1947 Constitution of Japan, the 1987 Constitution of South Korea, and President Ho Chi Minh's 1945 declaration of independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
The meaning of "pursuit of happiness" has evolved over time, and today it is often associated with the American Dream and material success. However, the founders of the United States intended it to have a deeper meaning. According to Brent Strawn, a professor of religion and theology at Emory University, the founders saw the "pursuit of happiness" as the actual experience of happiness, not just the pursuit of it. Strawn argues that the American Dream, defined as having lots of money and material possessions, may not be a sufficient definition of true happiness.
The classical Greek and Roman moral philosophers who inspired the Founding Fathers viewed the pursuit of happiness as a quest for being good, not just feeling good. They saw it as a lifelong pursuit of virtue, rather than short-term pleasure. This idea of the "pursuit of happiness" as a noble and virtuous endeavour is also reflected in the works of 17th- and 18th-century writers such as John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, and Jean-Jacques Burlamaqui.
In conclusion, the "pursuit of happiness" in the Declaration of Independence is more than just the pursuit of individual pleasure or success. It is about the experience of true and substantial happiness, which was seen as a natural state for humans and deserved protection. The founders believed that the legal and social frameworks provided by the Declaration and the Constitution would create the conditions for individuals to pursue and experience happiness.
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The pursuit of happiness in state constitutions
The "pursuit of happiness" is a well-known phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It gives three examples of the unalienable rights which the Declaration says have been granted to all humans by their Creator, and which governments are created to protect. The phrase has also been referenced in the constitutions of other nations, such as Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam.
While the Declaration of Independence recognizes the unalienable rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness", the US Constitution does not explicitly mention happiness. However, the pursuit of happiness has been written into various state constitutions and has been cited in some of the US Supreme Court's landmark decisions. For example, the right to pursue happiness has been central to two landmark decisions defining the constitutionality of marriage.
State constitutions have included provisions related to the pursuit of happiness since 1776, and courts have applied these provisions in various ways, including declaring slavery unconstitutional, protecting the right to earn a living, and defending private property. The Virginia Declaration of Rights, adopted less than a month before the Declaration of Independence, included a guarantee of the inherent right to "the enjoyment of life and liberty... and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety." The constitutions of Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Vermont also explicitly mention the pursuit of happiness.
The phrase "pursuit of happiness" has been interpreted in different ways. Some scholars attribute the phrase in the Declaration of Independence to the influence of philosophers such as John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Locke, for example, wrote about the ""careful and constant pursuit of true and solid happiness" in his Essay Concerning Human Understanding. However, according to Brent Strawn, a professor of religion and theology, the contemporary understanding of the "pursuit of happiness" differs from what the founders of the nation intended. Strawn suggests that the founders viewed the pursuit of happiness as practicing happiness and experiencing it, rather than just seeking or chasing it.
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The pursuit of happiness in the American Dream
The phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is a well-known phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence. The phrase gives three examples of the unalienable rights which the Declaration says have been given to all humans by their Creator, and which governments are created to protect. The Declaration of Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson, and then edited by the Committee of Five, which consisted of Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. It was then further edited and adopted by the Committee of the Whole of the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
The "pursuit of happiness" has been interpreted in various ways. Some believe that it refers to the act of seeking happiness, while others argue that it means actually practising and experiencing happiness. According to Brent Strawn, a professor of religion and theology, the contemporary understanding of "pursuit of happiness" is thinner and less meaningful than what the Declaration's authors intended. Strawn suggests that the American Dream, often associated with wealth and material success, may not be a sufficient definition of true happiness.
The pursuit of happiness has been a topic of interest and debate among the Founding Fathers and classical writers on virtue. Jeffrey Rosen, in his book "The Pursuit of Happiness," explores how the Founding Fathers understood and pursued happiness in their lives. Rosen argues that the pursuit of happiness was a quest for being good, not just feeling good, and that it was a lifelong pursuit of virtue rather than short-term pleasure. This idea aligns with the beliefs of classical Greek and Roman moral philosophers who inspired the Founding Fathers.
The concept of the pursuit of happiness has had a significant influence on American legal history and jurisprudence. While the Declaration of Independence recognises the unalienable right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," the US Constitution explicitly mentions life and liberty but not happiness. However, protections for the pursuit of happiness have been written into various state and national constitutions, and have been cited in landmark Supreme Court decisions, demonstrating its importance in the American consciousness.
The pursuit of happiness has also been linked to other rights and freedoms, such as the freedom to engage in contracts, hold an occupation, learn and gain knowledge, marry and raise children, and practice religion. The right to pursue happiness has been central to legal decisions defining the constitutionality of marriage, including the landmark case of Loving v. Virginia, which struck down bans on interracial marriages.
In conclusion, the pursuit of happiness in the American Dream encompasses the belief in unalienable rights, the quest for virtue, and the legal protections provided by the Constitution. It has shaped American democracy, jurisprudence, and the understanding of individual freedoms and pursuits. While interpretations may vary, the pursuit of happiness remains a fundamental aspect of American ideals and legal history.
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The pursuit of happiness in law and jurisprudence
The phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is a well-known phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence. The phrase gives three examples of the unalienable rights which the Declaration says have been given to all humans by their Creator, and which governments are created to protect. The pursuit of happiness is a fundamental right recognised in the United States Declaration of Independence, but it is not explicitly mentioned in the US Constitution. However, the pursuit of happiness has been an important part of American legal history and has been written into various state constitutions and national constitutions of other countries.
The phrase "pursuit of happiness" has been interpreted in different ways. Some scholars attribute the phrase to John Locke, while others attribute it to Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Locke never associated natural rights with happiness, but his philosophical opponent Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz did make this association. In "The Bible and the Pursuit of Happiness", Brent Strawn argues that the contemporary understanding of the "pursuit of happiness" is a "thinner, less meaningful shadow" of what the Declaration's authors intended. Strawn suggests that the American Dream, often associated with wealth and material success, may not be a sufficient definition of true happiness. Instead, the authors of the Declaration of Independence may have envisioned the pursuit of happiness as the experience of happiness, not just the seeking of it.
The pursuit of happiness has been interpreted in a legal context, particularly in landmark Supreme Court decisions on marriage. For example, in Loving v. Virginia, the Court found that bans on interracial marriages were unconstitutional, citing the right of freedom of marriage as essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness. This precedent was later applied in Obergefell v. Hodges, where the Court found bans on marriage for same-sex couples unconstitutional.
The concept of the pursuit of happiness has also been linked to the idea of virtue. In his book "The Pursuit of Happiness", Jeffrey Rosen explores how the American Founders viewed virtue and the pursuit of happiness. Rosen argues that the Founders understood the pursuit of happiness as a quest for being good, not just feeling good, and that it was a lifelong pursuit of virtue rather than short-term pleasure. This interpretation aligns with the belief that the pursuit of virtue was incompatible with the enslavement of African Americans.
In conclusion, the pursuit of happiness in law and jurisprudence has a rich history and has been interpreted in various ways. While it is not explicitly mentioned in the US Constitution, it has been an important part of American legal history and has been referenced in significant court decisions. The pursuit of happiness has also been a central theme in understanding the founding principles of American democracy and the classical virtues that inspired the Founders.
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The pursuit of happiness in personal life
The "pursuit of happiness" is a well-known phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence. It is one of the three unalienable rights that the Declaration says have been granted by the Creator and which governments are created to protect. The other two are "life" and "liberty".
The phrase "pursuit of happiness" is open to interpretation. Most people today understand "pursuit" to mean chasing happiness, as in "going after it". However, some scholars argue that the authors of the Declaration of Independence intended the phrase to mean actually "practising happiness", i.e. experiencing happiness, not just chasing it. This interpretation is supported by the Virginia Convention's Declaration of Rights, which speaks of the "pursuing and obtaining" of happiness.
The "pursuit of happiness" has been referenced in various state and national constitutions, including those of Canada, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam. It has also been cited in some of the United States' Supreme Court's landmark decisions on marriage.
In personal life, the pursuit of happiness can be understood as a quest for being good, not just feeling good. This interpretation is supported by classical Greek and Roman moral philosophers, who believed that the pursuit of happiness was a lifelong pursuit of virtue, not short-term pleasure. This view is echoed by some of America's founders, including Benjamin Franklin, who is known for his emphasis on personal virtue.
Ultimately, the pursuit of happiness in personal life is about finding meaning and purpose, and striving to live according to one's values and principles. It is a journey of self-discovery and self-improvement, and it may look different for each individual. What brings one person happiness may not bring the same for another, and it is up to each person to determine what true happiness means to them.
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Frequently asked questions
The phrase "the pursuit of happiness" is not mentioned in the US Constitution. However, it is famously included in the Declaration of Independence, which was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and edited by the Committee of Five, consisting of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Jefferson himself.
The phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" in the Declaration of Independence outlines three examples of unalienable rights that governments are created to protect. While the exact meaning of "the pursuit of happiness" is open to interpretation, it is believed that Jefferson intended it to be more than just the pursuit of pleasure or success, but rather a quest for virtue and goodness.
The contemporary understanding of "the pursuit of happiness" differs from the intention of the Declaration's authors. Today, it may be associated with the American Dream and material success, while the authors intended it to refer to the actual experience of happiness, not just the pursuit of it. This thick understanding of happiness, as described by Brent Strawn, is a more meaningful interpretation that guides both individuals and nations.
