----------------- HES POSTING ----------------- I don't think that Chastellux's book had any influence on Jefferson. In fact the issue of "happiness", public happiness in particular, was very popular among French and Italian philosophers and economists (Verri, Galiani, Genovesi, Condorcet ...), and was a common theme of (continental) Enlightenment. In England, instead, happiness was almost absent (as far as I know Chastellux is the only English work on "public happiness"). English were interested in "wealth of the Nations", whereas Latin countries on "happiness". By the way: do someone know if there are other XVIII books on happiness in England or in English language (I am writing a book on the history of happiness in economics). Luigino Bruni ------------ FOOTER TO HES POSTING ------------ For information, send the message "info HES" to [log in to unmask]