The Founders, the Pursuit of Happiness, and the Virtuous Life

We the People

National Constitution Center

History, News Commentary, News

4.6 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 15 February 2024

⏱️ 73 minutes

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Summary

Jeffrey Rosen talks about his new book, The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America, followed by a panel discussion on the influence of classical writers and thinkers on the founding generation. Panelists include University of Chicago Professor Eric Slauter, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist George Will; and Melody Barnes, executive director of UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy. This program was recorded live on February 9, 2024. Resources: Jeffrey Rosen, The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America (2024) Cicero, The Tusculan Disputations Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics Melody Barnes, et al, ed., Community Wealth Building and the Reconstruction of American Democracy (2020) Karsh Institute of Democracy, University of Virginia Eric Slauter, The State as a Work of Art: The Cultural Origins of the Constitution (2009) Thomas Jefferson’s Recommended Reading George Will, Statecraft as Soulcraft: What Government Does (1984) George Will, The Conservative Sensibility (2019) Questions or comments about the show? Email us at [email protected]. Continue today’s conversation on Facebook and Twitter using @ConstitutionCtr.  Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate, at bit.ly/constitutionweekly.  You can find transcripts for each episode on the podcast pages in our Media Library.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello friends. I'm Jeffrey Rosen president and CEO of the National
0:06.3	Constitution Center and welcome to We The We the People, a weekly show of
0:09.9	constitutional debate. The National Constitution Center is a nonpartisan non-profits chartered by Congress to increase
0:16.6	awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.
0:21.5	Last week, the National Constitution Center hosted our third annual
0:25.1	President's Council retreat in Miami. It featured a series of meaningful
0:29.8	conversations about the Constitution with a diverse group of illuminating speakers.
0:35.0	During the retreat, I had the wonderful opportunity to talk about my new book, which is out this week.
0:41.0	It's called The Pursuit of Happiness how classical writers on
0:44.4	Virtue inspired the lives of the founders and defined America. After the talk I
0:49.7	was so honored to be joined by three of my heroes to discuss the founders and the virtuous life.
0:55.1	Eric Slaughter, the Deputy Dean of Humanities at the University of Chicago.
0:59.2	Melody Barnes, Executive Director of the Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia,
1:05.6	and the great columnist George F. Will.
1:08.7	Dear read the People listeners, I'm so excited to share the conversations with you, and if you move to read the book
1:13.6	and would like a signed book plate just let me know. Enjoy the show.
1:17.4	Dear friends what better place to discuss the virtues of humility,
1:31.2	self-abnegation, and overcoming the ego.
1:36.1	Then with a dinner panel at the President's Council retreat. I am so excited to talk with you about this quest that I've had to explore the history and philosophy behind the pursuit of
1:55.5	happiness. I'm going to talk a little bit and then what a thrill to welcome
2:01.0	George Will Eric Slaughter and Melody Barnes to talk with me about the
2:06.4	pursuit of happiness and the founders. So this project came unexpectedly during COVID.
	...

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