HUMAN ABILITY to REASON, HUMAN RIGHT to CONSENT - Proem & Poem No. 96

Most likely to be published later this spring of 2018, my 10th book currently entitled; 100 Proems & Poems on the HUMAN ABILITY to REASON, HUMAN RIGHT to CONSENT & Other Neglected Matters. The following will probably be included upon further editing, and front cover below merely a working version....

PROEM & POEM No. 96 - Jefferson, Epicurean or Lockean / Part 1 ~

      Some arguably credit Thomas Jefferson’s use of Pursuit of Happiness (see Nos. 25-29) as referential to the classically interpreted writings of Epicurus, that is, happiness by moderation or simplicity, oppose to the more excessively hedonistic view of the same (thus the word “epicurean”). This counters the alternative perhaps common position where he expanded on John Locke’s precise use of Possessions or the paraphrased Property, while condensing the prior rights Life, Health and Liberty to the popularly recited rights Life and Liberty.

      Both explanations are gravely problematic to understanding a basic human right. First, if meant as a classically Epicurean reference for modest living, then Pursuit of Happiness is an admonition or instruction, rather than something unalienable. Second, if meant as an expanded Lockean reference, then Pursuit of Happiness becomes a broad, less defined objective, or better said, an observably universal human desire or preference, rather than something particularly, precisely unalienable.

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O Libertatem, carissimum te esse mibi, latent the affinity
Tainted more by the atrocities, per Thomas’ goddamn tree
Refreshed from time to time, scribed he, "Blood must flow!"
Popularly moral, perpetually laurelled; oddest of fandangos

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Come let us Reason. Peace is always a Choice.

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