Wrtier Choice - Book Report/Review Example

Section/# Paine’s Argument Thomas Paine’s text “The Right of Man” traces the origins of what Paine refers to as natural rights and seeks to draw a level of comparison to the self-actualization model that his counterpart Burke puts forward. To this end, Paine begins by complaining that Burke has no rationale or proof of the claims that he makes. As such, Paine goes on to claim that the true heart of the argument is with relation to when and how the rights of man are ultimately derived.

Moreover, Paine asks the question of who has rights, from when, and to what extent.Paine proceeds to argue that ultimately these rights are a construct of man’s innate rights – given at birth; the ultimate right to freedom and the pursuit of his own means within reason. He further argues that the creation of man instituted a right of self determination that has continued unbroken up until the current time (Bonnett 44). As such, this God given gift must be cherished and acted upon otherwise it will be lost as it has been lost so many times throughout history.

Finally, Paine makes a clear distinction between what he dubs natural and civil rights. The natural rights, according to Paine are those that are given at birth and appertain to the right of existence and the right to seek and enjoy freedom. As such, the civil rights of the individual are those rights which appertain to mankind’s place within the given society and his rights with relation to this particular construct (Paine 100).In short, the main idea that Thomas Paine attempts to acquaint with the reader is the nature of whence the rights and freedoms that mankind enjoys originate.

With regards to whether or not this student agrees with Paine’s argument, the answer would be a resounding yes. Although Paine’s argument was likely groundbreaking at the time it was first proposed, time has proven that the underlying premise that mankind is ultimately instilled from birth with a level of inalienable rights has been a foundational approach that representative democracies around the world have sought to uphold. Ultimately, this student agrees with the premise that Paine puts forward due to the fundamental understanding of human rights and the intrinsic nature of how certain privileges are innately granted to individuals as a direct result of their mere existence.

Works CitedBonnett, Alastair. "The Other Rights Of Man." History Today 57.9 (2007): 42-48. Academic Search Complete. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.Hayden, Patrick. The philosophy of human rights. St. Paul, MN: Paragon House, 2001. Print.