John Adams and Virtue: Making America
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is the shared objective of every American. We all have a pretty good idea about what life and liberty mean, however what about pursuit of happiness? John Adams, our 2nd president, understood how important this concept was to the American principle. Dinesh D’Souza discusses.
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Script:.
” … life, liberty and the pursuit of pleasure” is the shared goal of every American.
The US Constitution was composed to make it possible.
We all have a respectable idea about what life and liberty mean, nevertheless what about the tail end of the expression– the pursuit of happiness?
That’s a bit harder to figure out.
Let’s use it a shot.
The 17th century English theorist John Locke spoke narrowly of the rights to life, liberty and home. The Declaration of Independence broadened the scope to something far grander, the objective for what Aristotle described the real end of all human undertaking– happiness itself.
We think today of delight in relativistic terms, something each person pursues in their own approach. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet Polonius advises Laertes, “To thine own self be real.” Put simply, be yourself.
We hear this a lot today.
To John Adams, America’s 2nd president and an influential figure in the production of the country, this was bad guidance.
For Adams and the Founders generally, joy was a method vivendi, a lifestyle, revealed by how one performed oneself, specifically in public.
Adams comprehended that people are an imperfect amalgam of the remarkable and the abominable; that “being yourself” does not automatically cause terrific character. It’s more likely, in reality, to cause self-absorption. The only method to achieve an exceptional character is, like whatever else, to operate at it.
The best way to do this, Adams contended, was actually to imagine a deserving character– here we’re speaking about a character like a character in a play– and after that make every effort to become that character.
Walk like that character, believe like him, feel like him, act like him. Adams practiced what he preached.
This takes us back to the Founders’ conception of joy.
They registered for the Aristotelian belief that authentic happiness is achieved when “the activity of the soul” stays in finest consistency “with virtue.” None of the creators assessed this idea more than John Adams.
Not only did he want his own life to be specified by virtue, he similarly wanted the baby republic to be developed on it. Without virtue, he thought, America could not succeed.
Today the term “virtue” appears anachronistic, a notion from the past. As long as understanding and virtue are diffused generally amongst the body of a nation, it is impossible they need to be oppressed.”.
In a monarchy, Adams kept in mind, the people do not need virtue. The virtue of the state is a reflection of the virtue of individuals.
Given that humankind is deeply flawed, this developed an apparent issue of which Adams was painfully conscious.
” I have really seen the entire time my life,” he observed, “such selfishness and littleness … that I typically shiver to believe that, altho we are participated in the very best cause that ever used the Human Heart … the Prospect of success is doubtful– not for Want of Power or of Wisdom however of Virtue.”.
How could the new nation develop a virtuous citizenry? A devout Christian with big regard for the Jews and the Hebrew Bible, Adams certainly saw belief in God and worry of His judgment as crucial. Was a proper education.
He did not believe these sufficed.
A virtuous government would likewise be essential. Here’s where a plainly defined, and easily understood constitution would be necessary. And no one worked harder than Adams to produce one.
For the total script along with FACTS & & SOURCES, see https://www.prageru.com/video/john-adams-and-virtue-making-america.
source
John Adams, our 2nd president, understood how important this idea was to the American concept. Adams understood that people are an imperfect amalgam of the admirable and the abominable; that “being yourself” does not instantly result in great character. In a monarchy, Adams bore in mind, the individuals do not require virtue. A devout Christian with enormous regard for the Jews and the Hebrew Bible, Adams certainly saw belief in God and worry of His judgment as crucial. And no one worked more difficult than Adams to establish one.
John Adams, our 2nd president, understood how essential this principle was to the American concept. Adams comprehended that people are an imperfect amalgam of the extraordinary and the abominable; that “being yourself” does not instantly lead to fantastic character. John Adams, our 2nd president, comprehended how crucial this concept was to the American concept. Adams comprehended that people are an imperfect amalgam of the admirable and the abominable; that “being yourself” does not immediately lead to good character. In a monarchy, Adams kept in mind, the individuals do not need virtue.
