StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

RETHINK: AN ANALYSIS OF PAINES COMMON SENSE - Research Paper Example

Cite this document
Summary
Common Sense is pamphlet anonymously published in 1776, a few months before the Declaration of Independence of America from the British Colonizers. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was a radical and impassioned call for America to free itself from British rule and set up an independent republican government…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER91.3% of users find it useful
RETHINK: AN ANALYSIS OF PAINES COMMON SENSE
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "RETHINK: AN ANALYSIS OF PAINES COMMON SENSE"

Download file to see previous pages

One of the central themes that revolve around this pamphlet is how the government creates stratification and restricts vices among its people. Paine wrote, “And as a man, who is attached to a prostitute, is unfitted to choose or judge of a wife, so any prepossession in favour of a rotten constitution of government will disable us from discerning a good one.” (Paine). More so, he points out that the constitution leads the people but the constitution of the government is rotten and this cripples the society of the capability to make good decisions and establish a better future for its self.

As Paine establishes the wickedness of establishing a government, he also described the even more wicked form of it – that is monarchy, a form of government ruled by a single individual. Since Paine finds the government as a necessary evil, the act of having a king as a head of the government even makes it more malevolent as government per se. According to Paine, “there is another and greater distinction for which no truly natural or religious reason can be assigned, and that is, the distinction of men into KINGS and SUBJECTS” (Paine).

He pointed out that men and women were distinct by nature and that good and bad were distinct by heaven. He understands that the distinction of the rich and poor have been triggered by various circumstances yet, he questions the ways and reasons how have this distinction – Kings and Subjects – had been conceived. This is because even monarchy’s religious origin was from sin. Paine establishes the point that all men were naturally created equal and no birth of one man shall establish a greater honour or degree.

“By appropriating theological concepts and translating sovereign authority from the religious to the civil sphere, Paine helped to facilitate a conceptual shift in the political discourse from the common law tradition to a natural rights paradigm”(Di Lorenzo). Indeed, the pamphlet was sought “to stir emotion and to ensure that every relevant nuance of the situation was understood by every potential citizen of the envisioned nation” (Holmes). He clearly mentioned in his conclusion four things which the Americans would want to consider in order to spark a revolution from the British.

Paine mentioned that the certainty of America’s waiting for a mediator to free them from the British colonizers is very unlikely. This is due to the fact the even the world powers of Spain or France Paine will also suffer from the consequences of meddling with the British. Paine acknowledges the Americans’ effort on pulling off peace talks and reconciliation with the British Government but also states the fact that the Americans are not given the chance to be freed despite all these. Paine wrote that “not being able.

to live happily or safely under the cruel disposition of the British court, we had been driven to the necessity of breaking off all connections with her” (Paine). Furthermore, he asserts that “the American colonies had grown to the point where dependence on Great Britain was a hindrance to smooth governmental functioning” (Holmes). Britain, as the world power at that time, had always been involved in world wars to further expand their colonial powers and territories. Because of this, America, as the former’s colony, had suffered from unstable social and economic state. This is

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“RETHINK: AN ANALYSIS OF PAINES COMMON SENSE Research Paper”, n.d.)
RETHINK: AN ANALYSIS OF PAINES COMMON SENSE Research Paper. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/literature/1456972-rethink-an-analysis-of-paines-common-sense
(RETHINK: AN ANALYSIS OF PAINES COMMON SENSE Research Paper)
RETHINK: AN ANALYSIS OF PAINES COMMON SENSE Research Paper. https://studentshare.org/literature/1456972-rethink-an-analysis-of-paines-common-sense.
“RETHINK: AN ANALYSIS OF PAINES COMMON SENSE Research Paper”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/literature/1456972-rethink-an-analysis-of-paines-common-sense.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF RETHINK: AN ANALYSIS OF PAINES COMMON SENSE

Television in the Modern Media System

Indeed, there are some very convincing points that you have brought up with regards to this issue and I am certain that readers will find much sense in your claim.... The author of this essay under the title "Television in the Modern Media System" comments on the recent article "TV Watching"....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Brain-Based Learning Theory Strategies for Attention-Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder

The symptoms of ADHD are associated with learning disabilities and as such, brain-based learning theory strategies have been… This research study conducts a qualitative analysis using a phenomenological approach in the investigation and exploration of brain-based learning theory strategies for learners with ADHD....
45 Pages (11250 words) Thesis

Performance Management System for Retail Sales Associates

The paper presents a performance management system for retail sales associates of a clothing and fashion accessories retail store.... A performance management system is a tool that the human resource manager can use to measure the performance of employees.... hellip; The basic task of the human resource function of a business organization is to recruit, train and retain the organization's workforce....
9 Pages (2250 words) Coursework

Common Sense by Thomas Paine

            His choice of the title “common sense” implies that his argument is based on logic and reason.... At the start of the book, Paine notifies the reader in advance that his argument will be based on simple facts, common sense, and the argument will be as plain as possible.... It is through his ability to appeal and reason with intellects that Paine is able to give his assertion that the separation from Great Britain is something that does not need much reasoning; it only requires common sense to do so....
6 Pages (1500 words) Book Report/Review

Descartes Theory of the Relation Between the Mind and Body

The paper "Descartes Theory of the Relation Between the Mind and Body" highlights that I disagree with Descartes' theory I think therefore I am.... He maintains that the body is not him; the body is merely a non-thinking being and it belongs to him.... He seems to combine dualism and union at times....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Thomas Paine and William Godwin

In fact, his most famous work, common sense is often taken as the root cause of the American Revolution since it was a pamphlet suggesting independence from England.... With a careful analysis of the writer's works and their life, it can be shown that the fundamental idea presented in both the works is similar in tone and meaning to a large extent and the differences between them have been exaggerated since both the writers held similar beliefs....
8 Pages (2000 words) Literature review

The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine

The author examines the book, “common sense, The Rights of Man and Other Essential Writings” by Thomas Paine in which he compares the villainy of the hereditary governments while profusely praising and defending the benefits of a constitutional republic.... common sense: The contents of this part are highly educative and students will stand to gain a lot as they provide a new orientation to their thinking process and values in life.... Paine elucidates the role of the common man informing the government and how to live in harmony with his fellow beings....
11 Pages (2750 words) Book Report/Review

Conceptual Analysis Concept

Moreover, in considering reversing these negative and limited mental models, there is a dire need to acknowledge that there are some believes that are common to humanity.... The paper "Conceptual analysis Concept" discusses that most of the philosophers have used the diagrams concept in describing valid different reasoning among different persons and cultures.... Sowa noted in his conceptual analysis that human beings' reasoning usually involved information obtained from different media (Sowa, 1984)....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us