On July 4th, I read the Declaration of Independence. I have it in a convenient little book form, along with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. My version is a 2008 reprint of the 1998 printing from Bantam with an introduction by Pauline Maier. She gives a very nice, brief, discussion of the events surrounding the writing of each document which gives a bit more insight than just the document.
Prior to this particular July 4th, I've been reading "The Bourgeois Virtues" by Deirdre McCloskey. Among other things, the book makes the case that seven virtues (4 pagan, 3 Christian) form the foundation of "goodness" in behavior and in practice these seven virtues are the path to good society and prosperity. Prof. McCloskey's book is a lot more than that, but that's what I want to focus on here. The seven virtues, in no particular order, are: love (neighborly), hope, faith, courage, prudence, temperance, and justice.
As I was reading the Declaration today, it occurred to me that some of these virtues are embodied in the text itself. Obviously, the whole operation is an act of courage, and by the discussion of Ms. Maier it was born of desperation. But, as one reads the text, other virtues become clear.
The first sentence displays temperance with the word "necessary:" "When in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands..." The independence is not to be invoked willy-nilly, but only for good reason.
Then we have this line: "...to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station" with suggests courage, prudence, and temperance all at once: we will take our place among the world's powers (courage) and demand equal treatment for the good of ourselves (prudence) but we do not ask overmuch (temperance).
Of course, faith is wrapped up in the whole thing too: "...to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them..."
The first paragraph ends in prudence and temperance, and in fact justice, as they say: "a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation." Here are our reasons, we make them plain for all to see (prudence and temperance) so that you may judge our position and find that our actions are equitable based on those actions taken against us (justice).
Now for perhaps the greatest sentence ever written: "We hold these Truths to be self-evident [prudence - there can be no disagreement], that all Men are created equal [is this love? justice?], that they are endowed by their Creator [faith] with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness...."
Life is more than just "living" or survival. Inherent in the phrase is a sense of good life - not serfdom, but the life of a free person. So Life and Liberty are inseparable and contained in these two ideas, held jointly, are several virtues. Obviously there is courage to live freely. This may be an uncomfortable life, after all. Hope and faith - well, they're in there for the founding fathers, certainly - to live a good life one must rise above material wealth to the "transcendent" after all. Prudence and temperance - to know how to conduct oneself, but never to go beyond your own freedom and interfere with someone else. Justice is part of that. And love, well - that we can come together and belief in a life of freedom and pursuit of happiness with our neighbors, and trust that we can all work together without be impelled to do so - that is love.
The remainder of the second paragraph lays out the right of people to abolish current government and set up a new one (justice) but states outright that prudence demands that people not do so because of "light and transient Causes." They then go through all the infractions of King George III against the colonies. Let's pick up at the last paragraph.
"...appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions [faith and hope]... these United Colonies are, and of Right [justice] ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES;"
"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."
The last sentence has it all. For the love of ourselves and each other, we are impelled to reject the authority of King George III to direct our lives and impose his rules upon us. We are joined together by our will in this and risk everything we have. These are the virtues upon which America is founded.
Happy Independence Day! Earn it.
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