Thomas More had an abundance of revolutionary ideas for his time, many of which he penned down in his famous work Utopia. More’s greatest focus in this short book is placed on exploring the possibilities and benefits of a new kind of government. His views on such things as freedom, community, and the innate nature of man were all considered when creating what More views as the epitome of a successful government. It is baffling to realize that, using these same principles of freedom, community, and the innate nature of man, another author could come to a conclusion in direct opposition with More’s outcome. Nevertheless, this is exactly what occurred when Thomas Paine, a political writer during the American Revolution, examined what his utopian society would look like. While More was led to the conclusion that a more totalitarian government would be most beneficial to society, Paine declares that all …show more content…
Though they began with similar principles, each man arrived at drastically different solutions for what could be deemed a successful and prosperous government. Observing the innate nature of man, both More and Paine agree that mankind is prone to wickedness and ought to be kept in check. This they propose to accomplish by creating a community in which men could live peaceably with, and benefit from, one another. Where More and Paine do not agree, however, is on the limitations that a government should be able to impose upon its people. More finds that creating strict regulations and limiting men’s freedom will result in a happy and successful society. Paine opposes this theory, suggesting that limitations ought to be placed on the government before they are imposed on the people. Thus, though they agree on the nature of man and the necessity of community, More and Paine would be hard-pressed to find common ground on the issue of
Common Sense seeks to answer the question: Is the form of colonial government ruling America the most effective option, in that it provides security and protects the people from anarchy and their vices at the least expense? Paine 's thesis is that the English system of government is undesirable as it does more harm than good to the society that it governs, and therefore a true republic should replace the English constitutional monarchy. This conclusion is supported by the points that government is a necessary evil to ensure security, the English constitution is redundant and archaic, and monarchies are destructive human constructs. To begin, Common Sense argues that government is intended to protect society from anarchy and hardship. Nevertheless, the government only fills this role logically as long as the
First argument that Paine has made was about distinction between society and government. Paine made it clear that he mainly did not love government, whose individual value he thought lies in "restraining our vices" (Paine, 1776). For Paine, the natural state of man is to live without government, and government's existence is needed only to solve its problems created by this usual, revolutionary way of life. If a government is unsuccessful in improving society or, even worse, it is actively initiates other troubles so it is not essential to be ruled by that government.
“In Common Sense, Paine addresses the problems of monarchy, the advisability of separation, the nature of society, and makes modest proposals for a new form of government” (Thomas Paine -- Common Sense -- Reading Revolutions). Paine used the comparison of people becoming
A government is only in place to force a punishment if someone were to misbehave. Paine believes that the government is a necessary evil and that it needs to focus on the issues of the people as a whole. England’s government does not show this prejudice towards the common people because the sole decision maker is the King which leads to the next point Paine covers. The American colonies should adapt a democratic republic because the opinions of the people would be expressed in a timelier manner. “Let the assemblies be annual, with a President only.
Furthermore, he claims that “it is impossible to establish any thing that combines principle with opinions and practice, which the progress of circumstances … will not in some measure derange, or render obsolete (Paine, 594),” and that it is the duty of every man to discuss and point out the defect of such laws (Paine, 545). Paine argues that it is important that government be open to improvement, and that “it is best to provide the means of regulating them as they occur (Paine, 594).” Without improvement the circumstances of each generation are not being accommodated which can dramatically weaken the ability for a government to successfully execute its main function. He believed that “no one man is capable, without the aid of society, of
“It is wholly owing to the Constitution of the people, and not to the constitution of the government that the crown is not as oppressive in England as in Turkey.” We should give power to someone who is fair and not self-centered. Paine stated “from the errors of other nations, let us learn wisdom” to advise us to avoid repeating the past in the future from learning about bad past experiences. Paine argued for American’s separation from England by comparing the Kings that Great Britain has had to what a government should be
# In Common Sense it explains, “For all men being originally equaled, no one by birth could have the right to set up his own family in perpetual preference to all others forever”. # That statement, is a good statement because it tells people that even though people may not look the same, act the same, or speak the same language, everyone should be equally treated. Paine also meant to explain that the citizens and the great Britain government were all humans, so they should all be treated the same. Paine then goes on to discuss the evils of having a hereditary succession in
In conclusion, Paine very clearly voices his negative opinions towards hereditary succession and monarchy. He was able to provide biblical reasoning against monarchical forms of government, which was important, considering his audience in America. He was also able to provide logical reasoning against hereditary succession, such as the age issue that it can present. This document was successful in opening American’s eyes and persuading to not have a monarchical government when they declared independence from
Thomas Paine’s influential essays, titled The Rights of Man and Common Sense, argue that humans are born with natural rights. Paine views human natures as essentially good, but capable of evil. In order to contain this evil there needs to exist an over-arching institution that would provide stability and peace. Paine argued that the government would play this role. However, he viewed the government as a necessary evil.
When talking about the government, Paine says that it is “a necessary evil”, he later states that governments sole purpose lies in “restraining our vices” (Paine p1). He believes that if everyone acted morally and were honest with one another, then there would be no need for a central government. However, Paine knows that not everyone is honest nor perfect in their actions, he also knows that with no government America would surely fall into
Thomas paine’s Common Sense was one of the most influential documents to the American Revolution. This essay also tries to argue that without Paine’s Common Sense the
“Every daring escape attempt to make a great change in existing conditions, every lofty vision of new possibilities for the human race, has been labeled Utopian” (Emma Goldman). Sir Thomas More was a philosopher who died trying to speak out against the government . Utopia is a work of Sir Thomas from the early 16th century, where it express Sir Thomas’s ideas of how a leader should rule his kingdom and his beliefs on how to make European society better. King Henry VIII, who was the ruler of England at the early 16th century, ruler, Sir Thomas more believed that King henry should have ruled his kingdom where a king should have treated his subjects fairly and putting his own subjects first before himself. European society in the 1500’s, it’s
A government’s improvement revolves solely around recognizing the rights of men: “There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly” (Thoreau, 1847/1998, p. 146). The people form the government. A
The government told the human race that nothing is wrong, it was just the citizens’ fear of the worst. So people did not worry about their lack of food or unsafe working conditions because they had no reason to distrust the government. They never realized that their idea of a utopia slowly slipped through their grasp. Rather than maintaining utter perfection in respect of laws, politics, customs, and conditions, the government remained in oppressive societal control; everything appeared ideal, but once examined closer, the true horrors came to light.
The idea of a “utopia” is a description of a perfect society, something without any flaws and all people within it live in perfect harmony. In Thomas More’s work Utopia, he depicts a “perfect society” as told by his friend Raphael Hythloday who was an experienced traveler. He tells of Utopia to be an island located in the new world, and then proceeds to give very thorough details about the ideals and lifestyle of the city. Throughout his piece, More describes this Utopia in comparison with the current European society of his own day. With each chapter and summary of the ideals or customs of the Utopians, More seems to favor the Utopian society over his own (hence him titling his work Utopia).