Good evening, I’m [ anchor name]. Tonight, we’re discussing a new book that explores the concept of happiness in the context of American history. “The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the ___s of the Founders and Defined America” is the latest work from Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center. According to Rosen, the pursuit of happiness, as envisioned by the Founders, was not about achieving a state of bliss, but rather about virtuous contentment [1]. He argues that the Founders saw the pursuit of happiness as a quest for self-improvement and moral perfection, rather than simply feeling good.
Rosen’s book examines the libraries, speeches, and correspondence of several key figures, including Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington, as well as women like Abigail Adams and Phillis Wheatley [1]. He also looks at the influence of Stoic philosophy, classical reading, and John Locke on these individuals.
The book is organized around 12 virtues, including order, temperance, and justice, with each chapter focusing on one or more individuals [1]. Rosen draws on a wide range of sources, including an appendix of the most-cited books on happiness from the founding era.
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