Origin and phrasing Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness

1 origin , phrasing

1.1 meaning of happiness
1.2 lockean roots hypothesis
1.3 virginia declaration of rights
1.4 alternative hypotheses

origin , phrasing

the united states declaration of independence drafted thomas jefferson, , edited committee of five, consisted of jefferson, john adams, benjamin franklin, roger sherman, , robert livingston. further edited , adopted committee of whole of second continental congress on july 4, 1776. second paragraph of first article in declaration of independence contains phrase life, liberty , pursuit of happiness .

jefferson s original rough draught on exhibit in library of congress. version used julian boyd create transcript of jefferson s draft, reads:

we hold these truths sacred & undeniable; men created equal & independent, equal creation derive rights inherent & inalienable, among preservation of life, & liberty, & pursuit of happiness; ...

the committee of 5 edited jefferson s draft. version survived further edits whole congress intact, , reads:

we hold these truths self-evident, men created equal, endowed creator unalienable rights, among these life, liberty , pursuit of happiness. ——

a number of possible sources or inspirations jefferson s use of phrase in declaration of independence have been identified, although scholars debate extent 1 of them influenced jefferson. jefferson declared himself epicurean during lifetime: philosophical doctrine teaches pursuit of happiness , proposes autarchy, translates self-rule, self-sufficiency or freedom. greatest disagreement comes between suggest phrase drawn john locke , identify other source.

meaning of happiness

there debate word happiness may have meant in 1776. current usage focuses on pleasant, positive emotions , having needs satisfied, whereas in 1776 common meaning may have been prosperity, thriving, wellbeing .

lockean roots hypothesis

in 1689, locke argued in 2 treatises of government political society existed sake of protecting property , defined person s life, liberty, , estate . in letter concerning toleration, wrote magistrate s power limited preserving person s civil interest , described life, liberty, health, , indolency of body; , possession of outward things . declared in essay concerning human understanding highest perfection of intellectual nature lies in careful , constant pursuit of true , solid happiness .

according scholars saw root of jefferson s thought in locke s doctrine, jefferson replaced estate pursuit of happiness , although not mean jefferson meant pursuit of happiness refer or exclusively property. under such assumption, declaration of independence declare government existed reasons locke gave, , have extended line of thinking support conception of limited government.

virginia declaration of rights

the first , second article of virginia declaration of rights, written george mason , adopted unanimously virginia convention of delegates on june 12, 1776, speaks of happiness in context of recognizably lockean rights , paradigmatic of way in fundamental natural rights of mankind expressed @ time.

that men nature equally free , independent , have inherent rights, of which, when enter state of society, cannot, compact, deprive or divest posterity; namely, enjoyment of life , liberty, means of acquiring , possessing property, , pursuing , obtaining happiness , safety.

benjamin franklin in agreement thomas jefferson in downplaying protection of property goal of government. noted franklin found property creature of society , thus, believed should taxed way finance civil society.

alternative hypotheses

in 1628, sir edward coke wrote in first part of institutes of lawes of england, commentary on thomas de littleton, commonly said 3 things favoured in law, life, liberty, dower. @ common law, dower closely guarded means widow , orphan of deceased landowner keep real property.

garry wills has argued jefferson did not take phrase locke , indeed meant standard governments should judged. wills suggests adam ferguson guide jefferson had in mind:

if, in reality, courage , heart devoted of mankind constituents of human felicity, kindness done infers happiness in person whom proceeds, not in him on whom bestowed; , greatest men possessed of fortitude , generosity can procure fellow creatures participation of happy character. if of individual, likewise of mankind; , virtue no longer imposes task obliged bestow upon others ourselves refrain; supposes, in highest degree, possessed ourselves, state of felicity required promote in world.

the 17th-century cleric , philosopher richard cumberland wrote promoting well-being of our fellow humans essential pursuit of our own happiness . locke never associated natural rights happiness, philosophical opponent gottfried wilhelm leibniz made such association in introduction codex iuris gentium. william wollaston s religion of nature delineated describes truest definition of natural religion being pursuit of happiness practice of reason , truth . english translation of jean-jacques burlamaqui s principles of natural , politic law prepared in 1763 extolled noble pursuit of true , solid happiness in opening chapter discussing natural rights. historian jack rakove posits burlamaqui inspiration jefferson s phrase.