Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happiness - 2015 Words

Equality as a Running Theme in American Thinking American philosophy is littered with differences in opinion, on matters of knowledge, our purposes as humans, and the ways we perceive the world around us. As I examine the works of thinkers like the enlightenment-driven Jefferson, the transcendentalists Emerson and Thoreau, and racially thinking philosophers like DuBois and Douglas, it becomes clear that an important basis of some of our greatest thought in America is the notion that all humans are created equal. Thomas Jefferson, as well as other American enlightenment thinkers at the time, held the belief that â€Å"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.† (US, 1776) This line from the Declaration of Independence does not make a distinction between any groups of people – it specifies that ALL men have access to these unalienable rights, which p roves to be in conflict with the system of enslavement prevalent in America at the time. Jefferson, like Benjamin Franklin, also subscribed to the religious principles of Deism, a faith that believes God created the earth and then stepped back, leaving humans with the ability to think rationally. This was an extremely progressive belief at the time, because it gave followers the freedom to think for themselves about what they thought was logical. It also established a controversial way of thinking – that anyShow MoreRelatedThe Liberty And The Pursuit Of Happiness1065 Words   |  5 PagesThe Declaration of Independence declares that human beings have certain unalienable rights, â€Å"that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.† Through slavery, these rights were systematically denied to a select class of people. George Santayana (1905) commented that, â€Å"those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.† Although abortion is legal in this country, the debate on whether it should be or not is far from settled. In November of 2014, Colorado Amendment 67 (TheRead MoreThe, Liberty And The Pursuit Of Happiness1679 Words   |  7 Pageshold 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. These words represent the ideals of our country, but at the time that they were written, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were withheld from many members of american society. Racism, the belief that the physical appearance of a person or group determines their capabilities and that oneRead MoreThe, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happiness1999 Words   |  8 Pages​â€Å"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness† are the ideals the United States was founded on. This means that everyone has a right to live and do what makes them happy. They are able t o do this without fear of punishment, retaliation, or persecution. However, some countries throughout history, believed that this was not the correct way for their people to live. They felt that the government should have absolute control over everything the people did. In light of this, such a country may be ledRead MoreThe On Liberty And The Pursuit Of Happiness1467 Words   |  6 Pages In the United States, we really put an emphasis on liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is one of our founding principles; however, in some areas, we seem to want to limit that. For example, in our education system, our society has been arguing for quite some time about whether or not there should be options or whether everyone should be required to attend the standard brick-and-mortar public schools. While those schools serve a critical purpose in our society, that does not mean that otherRead MoreThe, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happiness1728 Words   |  7 PagesThe words â€Å"†¦ 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.† are the building blocks that gave rise to one of the greatest countries, the United States of America. Without the help of influential leaders, such as Thomas Paine and his thought provoking writing Common Sense, this country’s independence would have ceased to exist. In April of 1775 the war began which would beRead MoreLiberty And The Pursuit Of Happiness2764 Words   |  12 PagesAccording to the Declaration of Independence, one of the documents on which our country bases its government on, â€Å"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.† So is there a reason, or cause that someone could lose these God given rights? What would bring about the stripping of a citizens birthright of the enumerated freedoms, laid out by the United States Constitution? Perhaps a violationRead MoreLife, Liberty And The Pursuit Of Happiness789 Words   |  4 Pagesshould declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We reaffirm today these truths to self-evident, that all people are created equal, that they are endowed by creation with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. - That these rights are secured by Governments instituted among Men and deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, - And when Government has become destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alterRead MoreLife, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happiness902 Words   |  4 PagesAs a citizen of the United States, you are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This is a VIRTUE that everyone embarks on; however, what if you were told you were doing it wrong? Aristotle begins his STORY stating that â€Å"EVERY art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim.† He goes on to say then, becaus e these ends at which we aim are onlyRead MoreLife, Liberty, The Pursuit Of Happiness1852 Words   |  8 Pages Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness; this is one prime reasons why America is so great. Very few places can you go and get what America has to offer. ‘Of, relating to, or characteristic of the United States or its inhabitants†, this is the definition of ‘American’ according to Google. Why is this ‘relevant’, you might ask? Lets take a look back, Apollo 13 and Argo films showed just what its like to represent America, and embodied what the American dream is made of, and what it is like to comeRead MoreWomen, Liberty And The Pursuit Of Happiness Essay1197 Words   |  5 PagesWe 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.† Despite our founding stating that all men are created equal, the course of history has proven otherwise. Throughout the 19th and 20th century, reforms were m ade, but the lack of equality still remained unresolved. Today the conquest for racial equality and reform still remains a prevalent