…and the Pursuit of Happiness
The Foundation of Life and Liberty
The Declaration of Independence. One relatively short document that changed everything. In the midst of war, our founding fathers came together, after much debate, to put their name to a new nation’s statement of freedom from tyranny.
The majority of this document is a list of grievances against King George. The colonists were fed up with his denial and suppression of their unalienable rights. Those rights being life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Thomas Jefferson wrote those famous words, but the phrase, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, wasn’t his idea. They originally came from John Locke, a 17th century British philosopher and highly regarded Enlightenment thinker. Jefferson was very familiar with his writings and was heavily influenced by them.
Locke said…
The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions: for men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent, and infinitely wise maker…1
He also said this…
The necessity of pursuing happiness [is] the foundation of liberty. As therefore the highest perfection of intellectual nature lies in a careful and constant pursuit of true and solid happiness; so the care of ourselves, that we mistake not imaginary for real happiness, is the necessary foundation of our liberty.2
Jefferson summed all of that up this way…
We hold these truths to be self-evident, 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.3
John Locke was Jefferson’s inspiration and pretty much the catalyst for the whole idea of American freedom. These unalienable rights come from what Locke called “the law of nature” which transcends governmental authority. All people are entitled to these things and others cannot meddle with them because they are natural law, established by God.
So Thomas Jefferson saw fit to include these natural laws and God-given rights into the declaration of our independence from England. The fact that these were being suppressed and violated was the whole reason for our struggle for independence.
…and the Pursuit of Happiness
Life and liberty, according to John Locke, were built on the foundation of the pursuit of happiness. Why was this so important to the founding fathers? Why was happiness so essential to John Locke? Why can we have life and liberty, but must continue to pursue happiness?
The idea of happiness was interesting. Locke made a distinction between imaginary and real happiness. Imaginary being that which is based on pleasure and possessions. Real happiness being found in a fulfilling and meaningful life.
In that sense, happiness is a continual pursuit. Not that we can’t reach it, but that fulfillment and meaningfulness are things which begin to fade the moment we attain them.
One might say, “I have made it. I am fulfilled and content. My life is complete.” At that point, there is no longer anything more to live for. The only thing left is to die. This isn’t a criticism of human nature, it’s an observable fact of the nature of life.
When we are prevented from or stop pursuing happiness (a fulfilling and meaningful life), life and liberty begin to slip away.
I’m sure you weren’t expecting a lesson on the roots of the American concept of liberty. But don’t you find it interesting that it’s all founded upon the idea of the pursuit of happiness?
So…Are You Happy?
What I mean is, are you pursuing a fulfilling and meaningful life? You may have heard about living with purpose or on mission. Pretty much the same thing.
It doesn’t mean quitting your 9-5 and moving into a barndominium in Bozeman, Montana to become a social media influencer (unless that’s your thing). It isn’t defined by riches. It can be anything you want it to be.
To me, a full and meaningful life would be one that blesses my family and serves to lift up those around me. And I wouldn’t mind the barndominium too. That’s something I can pursue while keeping my day job.
It’s not about uprooting and changing everything. Although it could mean a fresh start somehow. For most, it would mean simple re-prioritizing.
The pursuit is full of ups and downs, victories and defeats. It implies the possibility of struggle to attain it. It doesn’t guarantee the outcome. But when you are pursuing that kind of happiness, you can truly have life and liberty.
So what is that for you? Are you pursuing happiness?
Grace and Peace to you.
John Locke, Second Treatise on Government, 1689
John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Vol. 1, 1689
Declaration of Independence, 1776