Declaration Of Independence Related To The Pursuit Of Happiness?

Improved Essays
Pursuit of Happiness
The Declaration of Independence refers to the “pursuit of happiness”, which has been raised in debate to determine if the word happiness should be replaced with the word pleasure. This is a valid argument, because happiness and pleasure seem to be exchangeable, but in reality these terms involve different emotions. This paper will discuss The Declaration of Independence reference to the “pursuit of happiness” and determine is pleasure should replace happiness.
The Declaration of Independence refers to the “pursuit of happiness” as the motivation to inspire all citizens to always move forward in life. This can include furthering education, to advance career opportunities, and investing in property. All of these activities

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Miserable: Without Love and Family “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” is a famous quote from our country's declaration of independence. Everyone tries to fulfill these three fundamental rights, but there are times that a person doesn't have control of his or her life and doesn't see beyond what impedes him or her to pursue these rights. In addition, if that person stopped to think for a moment that his or her life can change and incorporate the fundamental rights, then that person will find peace. A peace that Jimmy Santiago Baca searched for in his young years, but didn't know where to find it until life gave him the opportunity to find peace in his writing.…

    • 1513 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence is the document that declares that the United States are separate from Great Britain. It is important because we are declared separate and it gives us certain rights and freedoms. It shows that the people have a word in the government and freedom in this country. The Declaration of Independence uses many of the enlightenment thinkers’ ideas and their ideas affected how it was created.…

    • 452 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Walter Mosley 's essay, “Get Happy” the author repeats the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence. This technique serves not only as an introduction and a preview of the forthcoming message but also establishes context and reminds the reader of what the phrase actually says. So many people think that our Declaration of Independence ensures Americans of life, liberty and happiness, but in face it is the pursuit of happiness. Mosley believes that in comparison to life and liberty, “our potential for happiness has lagged far behind.”…

    • 838 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Happiness for Americans is freedom as one can see in George Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze. The Revolutionary War to free the American people is driven by the pursuit of happiness. This happiness is a promise for people who support the rebellion. Supporting this rebellion is an easy thing to do though with George Washington in control due to his extraterrestrial ability to lead, to confront problems, and to be patient for the happiness that follows a problem.…

    • 388 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Imagine going through your life with no equality, and the person next to you had the freedom of things that you didn’t have, or if you didn’t have the right to your own life and happiness, or even if you couldn’t adjust your leaders when they begin to destruct. This is how our life would be today without Thomas Jefferson writing the Declaration of Independence(DOI). These three ideals of the DOI are the most important for various reasons. Equality of all humans is very important to the independence and freedom that we have.…

    • 1193 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Why do we as humans do what we do? Is there an explanation for our actions? What exactly are our actions and what goes into those actions? All of these questions can be answered and it all comes down to the point of happiness. Through text such as “Human Fulfillment” by David Cloutier, Moral Theology True Happiness and the Virtues by William C. Mattison, and “On Free Choice of the Will” by Augustine we will find answers and examples to these questions.…

    • 1011 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    The view of happiness as well as the role that pleasures and desires play in achieving happiness can be seen throughout Western philosophy. Detailing a hypothetical dinner conversation between Aristotle, Epicurus, Hobbes, and Epictetus, will such an understanding be described. In such an account, I will be detailing: what issue/s each guest would raise; what thesis would each defend, and how each would respond to the other; as well as who is most likely to disagree with whom and on which points, and who, on the other hand, might find allies or sympathizers. Each philosopher defines/views happiness differently. Aristotle defines happiness as an activity of the soul in accordance to virtue and reason.…

    • 1449 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    1. The term “unalienable right” refers to rights that people are born with that cannot be given or taken away. Natural human rights. I think that Jefferson found it important to assert this because the colonists felt that the British government was trying to take away their unalienable rights. After he asserts that these are rights that everyone has, he uses the rest of the paragraph to explain how these rights should be protected by government.…

    • 1197 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    5). Aristotle introduces the concept of happiness in relation to the motive and purpose present for decision-making and choices. Happiness is associated to the good that ‘choice’ and ‘knowledge’ partially…

    • 848 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This is the statement also found in the Declaration of Independence itself and is, in my opinion, the thing that makes America the best nation in the world and a nation that other countries model themselves after. Every human being has the right to life – no one should ever have the right to take another person’s life. God is the only one with that right. Liberty is another word for freedom. No one human being should ever have the right to control the future of another human being or make decisions for another human being.…

    • 865 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the eyes of teens the idea of happiness is favorable to them. The first sentence of paragraph three of the Declaration of Independence is more compelling for teens compared to the Preamble of the Constitution. The Declaration of Independence has more meaning to teens in today's society. The Declaration of Independence states that we have the right to pursue happiness. It has more meaning because the statement connects to teens by setting goals, being yourself, and having freedom creates happiness to teens.…

    • 592 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    My Pursuit Of Happiness

    • 1373 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson wrote that every single person has the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. Well it’s interesting that he put “the pursuit” of happiness because happiness isn’t something that is guaranteed or something that can be bought. You have to bring happiness to your life by whatever means necessary. Whether it be music, art, literature, exploring, or just learning more about the world around us. For me personally there are three main sources that bring me happiness and just overall joy my family, work, and my best friend Caleb.…

    • 1373 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    If one hundred people, were asked what does it mean to live the good life, no two responses would be exactly the same. Even though everyone’s response would be different, many of the responses would most likely include being happy. Similarly to how people’s responses would differ if asked the original question, everyone would have their own definition of what happiness means to them because certain words mean different things to different people. Many of the authors that were covered in class talked about happiness and its relation to the good life. The authors that gave the most insight into their view of happiness were Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, and John Stuart Mill.…

    • 1325 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The pursuit of meaning "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" the most well known phrase from our Declaration of Independence. Our founding fathers put an emphasis on the importance of happiness and believed it was vital to a functioning society. The insertion of this phrase gave birth to the American dream, and inspired millions. We all seek happiness, there is no denying that. However, what is happiness or what makes people happy, differs from person to person and place to place.…

    • 1746 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    As stated by Yuuki Asuna, “Life isn’t just doing things for yourself. It’s possible to live in such a way that other people’s happiness, makes you happy too.” Doing something for oneself is selfish and pointless. Happiness has been pursued by the people who come to America, wanting the American dream, to be happy and get what they want. Not being happy even have a negative connotation to it.…

    • 730 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays