The Living Declaration

Dr. Steven Skultety, professor of philosophy and director of the Declaration of Independence Center at the University of Mississippi, explains why the Declaration of Independence remains vitally important 250 years after its creation. Responding to a fifth grader's question, he reveals three fundamental principles that continue to shape American identity and governance in ways that affect citizens of all ages.

• The Declaration establishes Americans as "one people" with shared beliefs, emotions, and a common sense of justice
• Being created equal means no American deserves unaccountable control over others, limiting acceptable forms of government
• Unlike historic descriptions, the Declaration actively makes history through deliberate human action
• These founding principles shape American life whether citizens actively engage with them or not
• As Dr. Skultety memorably puts it: "You may not be interested in the Declaration of Independence, but the Declaration of Independence is interested in you."

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Speaker 1 0:47

My name is Max . I'm a fifth grader from Arizona . My question is why is the Declaration of Independence still important today ? Thank you , maxwell , for that question . Today I'm excited to introduce a new scholar . We have Dr Stephen Skoltetti , who is a professor of philosophy , the chair of the Philosophy and Religion Department and the director of the Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom at the University of Mississippi . Stephen , thank you so much for being here . So the question is why is the Declaration still important today ? What can you tell us ?

Speaker 2 1:23

Well , Liz , as I've thought about this fantastic question , I guess I come back again and again to three sort of three big things . I guess I come back again and again to three sort of three big things . And

Fifth Grader's Question About Declaration

Speaker 2 1:34

so here's the first what it means to be an American isn't just infinitely plastic . It can't be anything to everyone at all times . It really does mean something rather than nothing , and I think you can see that in the document right when you start out . How there's this announcement that when , in the course of human events , it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with one another , Notice there there's this idea that Americans are a people

Americans As One People

Speaker 2 2:09

and that there are other people out there in the world , but we're one in some important way . And you know you can see that in other ways in the document as well . So , for example , famously you know we hold these truths to be self-evident . I mean that we is picking out a way the American people are going to believe things right . And even in the middle of the Declaration , you know , when you're listing all of these grievances against the King of England , notice there's an assumption there that when Americans read these grievances they're going to get angry , they're going to be indignant . So there's also an assumption that we share a lot of the same emotions . We share a kind of a psychological repertoire that'll make us respond in a certain way that other people may not . And then , you know , the document obviously ends , too , with an announcement that we as a people are going to be doing something together , so it presupposes that we're acting together as a people . So I mean , I think that's the first big thing as Americans , we're one people with shared beliefs , shared emotions , a shared sense of justice , and then ready to act together as well .

Speaker 2 3:26

And I think the second big thing that I think about when I think about the importance of the Declaration of Independence is I think the key idea that's communicated , that I think continues to resonate with all Americans , no matter kind of where they are on any given political spectrum , is that we as Americans think of each other as having been created equal . We as Americans think of each other as having been created equal ,

Created Equal: The Key American Idea

Speaker 2 4:15

and by thinking of ourselves as being created equal , what we mean is that , look , people might be better or worse at this or that , or much superior to anyone else , that they deserve to have unaccountable , complete and total control over any other group of Americans . We're going to ensure that , no matter what kind of government we set up , there's this key idea that no one is just different in kind from anyone else . That would justify some kind of absolute , absolute government . And then , finally , the final thing I'll just mention . It may seem so obvious that it's not even worth talking about it , but when I hear other people talk about the Declaration they don't mention this . And here's the idea this is a declaration , not a description , and what I mean by that is this I think a lot of people , when they look at the sweep of history , they're tempted to think that history is kind of unfolding in some sort of unalterable process .

Speaker 2 5:14

Or all things inevitably even there might be hiccups here and there all things inevitably are kind of going toward one sort of goal . They're all things inevitably are kind of going toward one sort of goal . And those of us who step back and think about this , you know we can . Our best , our best efforts are really just to offer a great description of the way things are unfolding in a sort of inevitable process . And it's just so interesting to

Declaration Not Description: Making History

Speaker 2 5:39

me and kind of exciting to me that the Declaration of Independence is saying you know what ? We control history . We are ready to do something that's going to make history . We're not just here to describe it . We're not here to describe a process , we're here to act .

Speaker 2 6:05

And so it's somewhat funny to me that some people turn to the Declaration and actually cite it as part of some inevitable process , Whereas when I look at it , I mean , I see a group of feisty people who are saying you know what ? Nothing is inevitable . It's time for a fight and it's time to make a difference in history through action . So I think those are the three big things . I would say is that the Declaration of Independence teaches us that being an American isn't just anything , it's something of one people . It's built on this profound and interesting idea that we're all created equal and that that means that we're only going to accept some forms of government . And then , finally , this is a declaration that we're going to make history , rather than just a description of the way history unfolds .

Speaker 1 6:49

So what would you say to a student who you know is studying this ? So the student who asked the question is a fifth grader , or maybe a seventh grader or high schooler . That says how , like , who cares ? This was written 250 years ago . What does it have to do with me ?

Speaker 2 7:07

Well , I think all of those lessons or principles or insights that I just attempted to offer they're directly bearing on students of all ages . I mean , it's easy to just live your life in accordance with certain assumptions that will sort of make you think more or less about different kinds of things . And so I would

Why Students Should Care Today

Speaker 2 7:33

just tell your fifth grader or your seventh grader that the ideas captured here in the Declaration of Independence are going to shape the course of their life , whether they like it or not . I mean to be a little cheeky about it . You know , you may not be interested in the Declaration of Independence , but the Declaration of Independence is interested in you Because being here in America means there's some just basic premises about the way we're going to behave and that you can expect people to act and react .

Speaker 2 8:08

And if you want to understand that terrain that you're living your life in , you need to stop and think about this incredible and very profound document . Now , of course that doesn't mean there's not going to be debates and scholarly differences and ideas about , hey , if the Declaration is this , what's going to follow from that ? And we can get into all sorts of fascinating discussions and debates about it . But there are these core starting points built into this document that really do affect our lives , no matter how old you are that really do affect our lives , no matter how old you are .

Speaker 1 8:48

Thank you so much . I feel like as a former teacher , that's , you know . I think students always think well , these documents are more for adults . Or once you can vote , and you know we're really trying to shine a light , like you just did on . No , this is actually everybody , so it doesn't really matter how old you are and I I that quote , quote you may not care about the Declaration , but the Declaration cares about you is just so wonderful . Dr Skoltetti , thank you so much for your expertise . We really appreciate having you on .

Speaker 2 9:14

It was my pleasure , Liz . Thanks for the invitation .