The pursuit of happiness : how classical writers on virtue inspired the lives of the founders and defined America Cover Image

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The pursuit of happiness : how classical writers on virtue inspired the lives of the founders and defined America / Jeffrey Rosen.

Rosen, Jeffrey, 1964- (author.).

Summary:

In reading the classical Greek and Roman moral philosophers who inspired the Founders, Rosen shows us how they understood the pursuit of happiness as a quest for being good, not feeling good. It meant the pursuit of lifelong virtue, not short-term pleasure. Among those virtues were the habits of industry, temperance, moderation, and sincerity, which the Founders viewed as part of a daily struggle for self-improvement, character development, and calm self-mastery. They believed that political self-government required personal self-government. In a fascinating exploration of what "the pursuit of happiness" meant to our nation's Founders, Rosen show how the famous phrase defined for them what it means to live a life of spiritual and moral purpose, how to be a good person as well as a good citizen.

Record details

ISBN: 1668002477
ISBN: 9781668002476
Physical Description: vii, 355 pages ; 24 cm
Edition: First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition.
Publisher: New York : Simon & Schuster, 2024.
Copyright: ©2024

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 287-334) and index.

Formatted Contents Note:

Order: twelve virtues and the pursuit of happiness -- Temperance: Ben Franklin's quest for moral perfection -- Humility: John and Abigail Adams's self-accounting -- Industry: Thomas Jefferson's reading list -- Frugality: James Wilson and George Mason's debts -- Sincerity: Phillis Wheatley and the enslavers' avarice -- Resolution: George Washington's self-command -- Moderation: James Madison and Alexander Hamilton's Constitution -- Tranquility: Adams and Jefferson's reconciliation -- Cleanliness: John Quincy Adams's composure -- Justice: Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln's self-reliance -- Silence: pursuing happiness today.

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▼ MARC Record

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082	0	4.	‡a973.3 ‡223
100	1	.	‡aRosen, Jeffrey, ‡d1964- ‡eauthor. ‡0(DLC)1917502
245	1	4.	‡aThe pursuit of happiness : ‡bhow classical writers on virtue inspired the lives of the founders and defined America / ‡cJeffrey Rosen.
246	3	0.	‡aHow classical writers on virtue inspired the lives of the founders and defined America
250		.	‡aFirst Simon & Schuster hardcover edition.
264		1.	‡aNew York : ‡bSimon & Schuster, ‡c2024.
264		4.	‡c©2024
300		.	‡avii, 355 pages ; ‡c24 cm
336		.	‡atext ‡btxt ‡2rdacontent
337		.	‡aunmediated ‡bn ‡2rdamedia
338		.	‡avolume ‡bnc ‡2rdacarrier
520		.	‡aIn reading the classical Greek and Roman moral philosophers who inspired the Founders, Rosen shows us how they understood the pursuit of happiness as a quest for being good, not feeling good. It meant the pursuit of lifelong virtue, not short-term pleasure. Among those virtues were the habits of industry, temperance, moderation, and sincerity, which the Founders viewed as part of a daily struggle for self-improvement, character development, and calm self-mastery. They believed that political self-government required personal self-government. In a fascinating exploration of what "the pursuit of happiness" meant to our nation's Founders, Rosen show how the famous phrase defined for them what it means to live a life of spiritual and moral purpose, how to be a good person as well as a good citizen.
504		.	‡aIncludes bibliographical references (pages 287-334) and index.
505	0	.	‡aOrder: twelve virtues and the pursuit of happiness -- Temperance: Ben Franklin's quest for moral perfection -- Humility: John and Abigail Adams's self-accounting -- Industry: Thomas Jefferson's reading list -- Frugality: James Wilson and George Mason's debts -- Sincerity: Phillis Wheatley and the enslavers' avarice -- Resolution: George Washington's self-command -- Moderation: James Madison and Alexander Hamilton's Constitution -- Tranquility: Adams and Jefferson's reconciliation -- Cleanliness: John Quincy Adams's composure -- Justice: Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln's self-reliance -- Silence: pursuing happiness today.
650		0.	‡aFounding Fathers of the United States ‡xBooks and reading ‡vBiography.
650		0.	‡aFounding Fathers of the United States ‡xHistory ‡vBiography.
650		0.	‡aFounding Fathers of the United States ‡xHistory.
650		0.	‡aHappiness ‡xPhilosophy.
650		0.	‡aVirtue ‡xLiterary themes, motives.
650		0.	‡aEthics, Ancient ‡xInfluence.
650		0.	‡aPhilosophy, Ancient. ‡0(DLC)1466355
650		0.	‡aPhilosophy, Ancient ‡xInfluence.
651		0.	‡aUnited States ‡xPolitics and government ‡xPhilosophy. ‡0(DLC)1510653
651		0.	‡aUnited States ‡xPolitics and government ‡xHistory.
651		0.	‡aUnited States ‡xHistory. ‡0(DLC)1478826
655		7.	‡aBiographies. ‡2lcgft ‡0(DLC)1429775
902		.	‡aMARCIVE 042024
999		.	‡eBook
901		.	‡aon1384412648 ‡bOCoLC ‡c2447357 ‡tbiblio

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