Can Happiness Save Democracy? | ft. Jeffrey Rosen & Roger Crisp
June 29, 2026
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10:35Now PlayingCan Happiness Save Democracy? | ft. Jeffrey Rosen & Roger Crisp
YouTube Description
as posted by the channelWhat does happiness have to do with democracy? In this Open to Debate clip, Jeffrey Rosen argues that the Founders believed personal self-government was necessary for political self-government, and that citizens must resist demagogues who promise immediate gratification in exchange for liberty.
The clip begins with a hard question: if doing good creates happiness, why are so many doctors and healthcare workers burned out? Rosen argues there is no such thing as a "virtuous profession" by itself; happiness requires daily self-mastery. Oxford philosopher Roger Crisp pushes back, arguing that virtue and happiness are not the same thing: a virtuous person can be unhappy, and a vicious person can live enjoyably.
Then the debate turns civic. Rosen connects the pursuit of happiness to the Founders' fear of demagogues, polarization, education, social media, and whether citizens can govern themselves well enough to keep a republic.
Arguing Virtue: Jeffrey Rosen, CEO & President of the National Constitution Center; Author of “The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America”
Arguing Pleasure: Roger Crisp, Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Oxford; Uehiro Fellow and Tutor in Philosophy at St. Anne's College, Oxford
Nayeema Raza, Journalist at New York Magazine and Vox, is the guest moderator
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