Arizona State University has launched a new course, What the Founders Meant by “Happiness”: A Journey Through Virtue and Character, inviting learners of all ages to explore how early American leaders understood happiness not as comfort or pleasure, but as the cultivation of virtue, responsibility and moral character.
The course draws on ancient philosophy, Enlightenment thought, and the lives and writings of the Founders. Participants will learn about how the “pursuit of happiness” was understood as a lifelong commitment to growth, self-mastery and civic responsibility. The course includes reflective exercises and historical case studies that consider how character shapes democratic institutions and personal flourishing.
An important theme throughout the course is to challenge modern assumptions about happiness by revisiting the classical idea of eudaimonia, which is flourishing through disciplined habits and ethical action. Historical figures including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin wrestled with virtue in both private life and public service. Many of the questions they asked themselves continue to have relevance in contemporary society.
The course was developed with ASU’s Principled Innovation® framework in mind and encourages learners to connect intellectual inquiry with moral reflection and civic engagement. Why does character remain central to leadership, citizenship and the health of constitutional democracy? Explore questions like this and more in this free, self-paced online course.
