The role of king is tyrannical by its very nature because kings are not elected, and so have no reason to listen to their constituents.
A successful government does not include kings, like the one in England. The success and happiness of any colony or nation rests on a citizenry that feels its government is an effective protector and does not overreach. Government thus originates because humans agree to give up some of their freedoms, including privacy or freedom from conscription into an army, in order to exist in a collective that will protect them from the evil of others. However, a society without regulations will quickly crumble, because some evil men will see an opportunity to take advantage of others. They realize soon that they need to band together and form a society to survive and thrive. Government’s only purpose is to provide its citizens with security from the vices that are inherent in all humans.Ĭonsider humans in a total state of nature. There are four main principles that make up Paine’s argument:ġ. It was his hope that America could serve as a model democracy that could eventually be exported around the world. Importantly, while it is often read and taught as a book that is only concerned with questions related to America and England, Paine also lays out a comprehensive political philosophy that is anti-monarchy and based on his understanding of the virtue of republican democracy. The Common Sense pamphlet, written by Thomas Paine and published anonymously, provides both an intellectual backing and a roadmap for full American independence from England. In this article, we’ll take a look at the main principles of Paine’s C ommon Sense argument.
While Paine’s ultimate goal certainly included convincing Americans of the righteousness of separation from England, the pamphlet itself is actually more directly concerned with larger questions of political philosophy. Why did Thomas Paine write the 1776 pamphlet Common Sense? What were its purpose and historical significance?Ĭommon Sense was written by English-borne philosopher Thomas Paine to provide intellectual backing for American independence from England. Like this article? Sign up for a free trial here. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading. This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine.
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