Thomas Jefferson’s Philosophy of human happiness and political economy influenced contemporary American political views. Perhaps Jefferson’s democratic philosophy can be compared with the Libertarian Party. The Libertarian Party is outstanding in American politics as a staunch supporter of individual liberty, free markets, and limited government. At its foundation, libertarianism holds that people should be free to live their lives as they see fit, as long as they do not infringe on the rights of others. While Jefferson’s democratic philosophy of happiness and property has some similarities with the Libertarian Party, they have fundamentally different views on the role of government in upholding individual rights and the pursuit of happiness.
The Libertarian Party’s political philosophy and Thomas Jefferson’s theory of property and happiness overlap significantly. Individual property rights and economic freedom are important to Jefferson and the Libertarian Party. “Jefferson’s notion of property rights was deeply linked to the idea of the pursuit of happiness” (Richardson, 2008, p. 3). Similarly, the Libertarian Party regards property rights as essential to individual liberty and opposes government intervention in the market economy.
Libertarians, like Jefferson, believe that property rights are essential to individual liberty and prosperity. They “believe all Americans should be free to live their lives and pursue their interests as they see fit as long as they do no harm to another” (The Libertarian Party, 2022, para. 2). According to libertarians, the government’s role in property should be limited to protecting these rights and enforcing contracts rather than regulating or redistributing wealth. The libertarian’s idea of limited government influence is consistent with Jefferson’s belief in the value of property as a foundation of individual liberty and his skepticism of government intervention in the economy.
Notably, the Libertarian Party and Jefferson’s democratic philosophy aligned with the idea that small-scale producers and independent entrepreneurs would mitigate rampant corruption and tyranny in large-scale production. Jefferson believed that a society of independent farmers and artisans was necessary for democracy and the pursuit of happiness to succeed. Jefferson envisioned America as a decentralized political and economic system where small landholders could work their land while remaining independent. “Jefferson sought an agrarian America composed of largely self-sufficient communities trading with one another in a free market” (Mathews, 1984, p. 203). Similarly, the Libertarian Party also values individualism and small-scale production. The Libertarian Party believes that reducing government regulations and promoting free-market capitalism will result in greater economic prosperity and individual liberty. The Libertarian Party’s and Jefferson’s ideas about small-scale production reflect a belief in the importance of individualism and the pursuit of happiness.
However, there are significant differences between Jefferson’s philosophy and the Libertarian Party’s ideology. While Jefferson valued limited government, “he realized that anarchy was a greater threat to individual liberty than tyranny and that a strong central government was necessary to prevent social disorder and to maintain a legal system that would protect individual rights” (Mathews, 1984, p. 214). The Libertarian Party, on the other hand, takes a more extreme view of limited government, advocating for a minimal state with few responsibilities other than protecting individual rights. This fundamental disagreement about the role of government implicates how each approach determines wealth distribution relative to happiness.
Furthermore, Jefferson’s property theory was founded on the concept of exclusive possession, which emphasized property owners’ responsibility to use their property in a way that. benefits society. In contrast, the Libertarian Party emphasizes individual property rights, which can sometimes conflict with the common good. “Libertarians strongly oppose any government interference into their personal, family, and business decisions” (The Libertarian Party, 2022, para. 2). The Libertarian Party’s priority on individualism raises concerns about balancing individual property rights and the need for a sustainable and equitable society.
While Jefferson believed that property should be evenly distributed among individuals, the Libertarian Party’s emphasis on individual liberty allowed for significant wealth disparities. According to Jefferson, the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few individuals posed a threat to democratic governance and the well-being of society as a whole. “Jefferson believed that small-scale production, which he associated with the independent farmer, was the cornerstone of American democracy” (Richardson, 2008, p. 2). Libertarians view individual liberty and the free market as the ultimate means of promoting prosperity and well-being. Although the Libertarian Party may support policies that encourage entrepreneurship and small business ownership, they also tend to support individuals’ and corporations’ rights to accumulate wealth and property without interference from the government.
Unlike the Libertarians’ view, which seems more capitalist, Jefferson’s concept of democracy is somewhat communist. To prevent the concentration of power and promote democratic governance, Jefferson believed that property ownership should be more evenly distributed. Considering individual freedom and entrepreneurship are the core of the Libertarian Party’s ideology, it creates room for economic inequalities. According to Fiest (2019, p. 24), the Libertarian Party typically advocates for “free markets and laissez-faire economics, which is a policy of minimum governmental interference in the economic affairs of individuals and society.” On the other hand, Jefferson was inclined to the idea of a strong central government that protected individual liberty through efforts to redistribute wealth or regulate commerce.
The Libertarian Party’s and Jefferson’s ideologies differ significantly in their views on the role of government. While Jefferson believed that a strong government was necessary to protect individual liberties and promote happiness, the Libertarian Party advocated for “individual freedom and is skeptical about the justified scope of government in our lives” (Fiest, 2019, p. 13). This is reflected in their support for eliminating all government welfare programs, as well as their opposition to any form of regulation or taxation that they believe violates individual property rights. In contrast, Jefferson believed that the government had the duty to promote social and economic equality and protect individual rights, even if it meant limiting wealth accumulation.
Despite these differences, Jefferson’s theory and the Libertarian Party advocate for individual liberty and property rights as a means to happiness. However, the current political environment presents challenges to these perspectives. The conflict between individual property rights and the common good has grown more acute in an era of rising economic inequality and environmental degradation. “There’s a real blind spot to understanding that the legacy of segregation exists and has real economic problems” (Fiest, 2019, p. 92). It remains to be seen whether Jefferson’s theory of property or the ideology of the Libertarian Party can adequately address these challenges and reconcile the tension between individual freedom and the pursuit of a just and sustainable society.
To conclude, Thomas Jefferson’s philosophy of human happiness and political economy has influenced contemporary American political views. A comparison of Jefferson’s theory of property and its relationship to happiness with the Libertarian Party demonstrates that property rights are necessary for individual freedom and the pursuit of happiness. On the other hand, Jefferson believed that the government had a role in promoting human happiness, whereas the Libertarian Party advocated for limited government.
References
Fiest, J. A. (2019). Third Parties in the US Political System: What External and Internal Issues Shape Public Perception of Libertarian Party/Politicians. The University of Texas. Web.
Mathews, R. K. (1984). The radical philosophy of Thomas Jefferson: An Essay in Retrieval. The William and Mary Quarterly, 41(2), 197–229.
Richardson, R. D. (2008). Thomas Jefferson and race. Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, 60, pp. 106–112.
The L. Party. (2022). Statement from The Libertarian Party. Libertarian Party. Web.