FAIRFIELD — The question of happiness as a human right, and how this issue relates to the establishment of the United States, will be the subject of an upcoming lecture from the Fairfield University Humanities Institute.

Certain Unalienable Rights: Pursuing and Obtaining Happiness in 18th Century America will take place at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26th at the Aloysius P. Kelley Center at Fairfield University. The event is free and open to the public, and attendees can register online.

The lecture will examine how discussions of happiness as a human right were part of many conversations in the 18th century, and in the United States in particular. The Declaration of Independence, which turns 250 years old today, cites “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” as “unalienable rights.” The talk will discuss how the founders of the United States looked at happiness when the country was established and how they planned to pursue this right.

Darrin M. McMahon, PhD, will deliver the lecture. McMahon is the David W. Little Class of 1944 Professor and Chair of the Department of History at Dartmouth College and the author of Happiness: A History.

Certain Unalienable Rights: Pursuing and Obtaining Happiness in 18th Century America

Thursday, February 26
5:00 pm (light refreshments served at 4:30 pm)
Aloysius P. Kelley Center, Fairfield University
1073 North Benson Road
Fairfield

Expanded coverage of Fairfield County cultural events is made possible with support from the Fairfield University Quick Center for the Arts.