A Broader and Deeper Foundation: The Alternative Vision of James Wilson’s Political Philosophy

A Broader and Deeper Foundation: The Bold Vision of James Wilson’s Political Philosophy rediscovers the forgotten political philosophy of American founding father James Wilson, revealing his bold, alternative vision for American politics. Wilson crafted a political philosophy centered on popular sovereignty and based upon Thomas Reid’s common-sense realism and moral philosophy. Wilson understood popular sovereignty as possessing both a moral and a political component. ＂The people＂ were not solely political actors, but also moral agents and morally responsible. He insisted that each person possessed a telos or purpose to pursue their own moral excellence, which he dubbed ＂happiness,＂ achieved through political participation (i.e., suffrage) as an integral means of every person’s telos. His re-definition of ＂happiness,＂ which forms a core part of his political philosophy, imbues the modern phrase with a traditional republican meaning. ＂Happiness＂ for Wilson functions as America’s broader and deeper foundation, serving as the moral telos of popular sovereignty, the foundation of American democracy. His interpretations of happiness and popular sovereignty united America’s founding documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

David Ferkaluk is a Lyceum Visiting Scholar in the Snow Institute for the Study of Capitalism at Clemson University.