On Liberty and Happiness

A response to Umair Haque

The United States of America was built on fundamental principles, and these principles were built into it’s founding documents. It is no overstatement to say that the existence of such principles was largely responsible for the overall success of the U.S., from the moment of its inception continued on through the modern day. The story of America is one of the continual realization of such ideals as the promises of “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” were extended to every citizen. These ideals are of a morally good quality, and thus deserved to be upheld. Umair Haque recognizes as much in a recent piece for Eudaemonia & Co. titled, “What Would America Look Like if it Took Life, Liberty, and Happiness Seriously?” In how he interprets those ideals, however, Haque would seem to be mistaken. As a consequence, the methods he advocates for as a means of realizing such ideals are also flawed, and would ultimately be antithetical to the founders’ ideals.

To lay the foundation for this discussion, it is valuable to understand first the meaning of those ideals, as well as the framework through which the founders applied them. Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, makes of primary importance the source of these ideals, which come not from a government or social institution, but from God.