The Political Philosophy of Thomas Paine
eBook - ePub

The Political Philosophy of Thomas Paine

  1. English
  2. ePUB (mobile friendly)
  3. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub

The Political Philosophy of Thomas Paine

About this book

This concise, thoughtful introduction to the work of Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense and Rights of Man, explores the impact of one of the most influential minds of the American and French Revolutions and the sources from which his thinking evolved.

In Jack Fruchtman Jr.'s helpful interpretation, Paine built his argument for radical revolution in 1776 on a study of nature and Providence and a belief in natural rights. Men and women owed it to themselves to break the chains of rank, hierarchy, and even organized religion in order to live freely, embracing the possibilities of invention, progress, and equality that lay ahead. In 1793, at the height of the French Revolution and its secularizing fury, Paine reminded readers that it was nature's God who created natural rights. The rights of man thus held out both the great potential of freedom and the requirement that human beings be responsible for those who were the least fortunate in society. On balance we may think of Paine as a secular preacher for the rule of reason.

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Yes, you can access The Political Philosophy of Thomas Paine by Jack Fruchtman Jr. in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Politics & International Relations & Early American History. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Dedication
  5. Contents
  6. Acknowledgments
  7. Introduction
  8. 1 Paine’s Political Thought in Historical Context
  9. 2 Faith and Reason, Human Nature and Sociability
  10. 3 Common Sense, Authority, and Autonomy
  11. 4 Permanent Revolution and Constitution Making
  12. 5 From a ā€œHamiltonianā€ Spirit to Public Welfare
  13. 6 Public Spirit, Civic Engagement, and Evolutionary Change
  14. Conclusion
  15. Appendix: A Note on Paine’s American National Consciousness
  16. Notes
  17. Recommended Reading
  18. Index