Thomas Paine "COMMON SENSE"
Sherry Hanna
People power and politics
Professor Aaron Ibur Thomas Paine “Common Sense”
Paine begins the pamphlet “Common Sense” with differentiating between government and society. He argues that society is a “blessing”; on the other hand, government is nothing but a “necessary evil.” Society is everything positive that people join together to accomplish. Government, on the other hand, is only there to protect us from our innate evil. Government has its origins in the evil of man and is therefore considered a necessary evil at its best. If all people acted morally, then government will not be necessary. But since we are all sinful humans, government’s role is essential to protect our life, property and provide security.
Paine thinks that people will be much happier if they are responsible for the creation of the laws that rule them. He mentions a scenario in which a small group of people placed on an island away from the rest of the society. These people will start to develop ties between one another in order to avoid living alone. They would start interacting to build shelters and feed themselves. Thus, out of necessity, people tend to create society. People will need no government as long as they were able to morally treat each other. However, in order to stay safe from the predictable imperfections that may occur, people do need some sort of government to regulate them.
Paine moves on to argue against monarchy and hereditary succession. He argues that everyone was born equal and the distinction that occurs between the king and the people is very unnatural and he, in fact, refers to it as a sinful act that lacks any religious bases. According to Paine, Man is supposed to have only God ruling over him, and it is very sinful act to have a king ruling over people and acting like a God to them. He said that even if people asked to have a king to rule over them, kings should not have the right to pass their power to their generation. Even if the person may
People power and politics
Professor Aaron Ibur Thomas Paine “Common Sense”
Paine begins the pamphlet “Common Sense” with differentiating between government and society. He argues that society is a “blessing”; on the other hand, government is nothing but a “necessary evil.” Society is everything positive that people join together to accomplish. Government, on the other hand, is only there to protect us from our innate evil. Government has its origins in the evil of man and is therefore considered a necessary evil at its best. If all people acted morally, then government will not be necessary. But since we are all sinful humans, government’s role is essential to protect our life, property and provide security.
Paine thinks that people will be much happier if they are responsible for the creation of the laws that rule them. He mentions a scenario in which a small group of people placed on an island away from the rest of the society. These people will start to develop ties between one another in order to avoid living alone. They would start interacting to build shelters and feed themselves. Thus, out of necessity, people tend to create society. People will need no government as long as they were able to morally treat each other. However, in order to stay safe from the predictable imperfections that may occur, people do need some sort of government to regulate them.
Paine moves on to argue against monarchy and hereditary succession. He argues that everyone was born equal and the distinction that occurs between the king and the people is very unnatural and he, in fact, refers to it as a sinful act that lacks any religious bases. According to Paine, Man is supposed to have only God ruling over him, and it is very sinful act to have a king ruling over people and acting like a God to them. He said that even if people asked to have a king to rule over them, kings should not have the right to pass their power to their generation. Even if the person may