The Innate Nature Of Man In Thomas More's Utopian Society

America, the land of the free, was founded upon the standards life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In America’s early years, Thomas Paine, in his book Rights of Man characterized this country’s government as functioning in unison with no difficulties. When you break it down and look at the big picture, some people will argue that increased diversity has brought the nation to an all time peak, in terms of unity. Meanwhile, others maintain the idea that Thomas Paine’s assessment is mistaken for what is to one day be achieved. Yet while we would like to believe in his visionary, it unfortunately does not hold true today regarding both our modern politics and social principles.

He justifies the need for democracy, aristocracy and monarchy depending on location. The three philosophers use their judgment and prior knowledge on each other’s work to validate an ideal society, especially for the uprising continent of America. Governments are an established institution in every society. Though there are multiple types of governments, their purpose is fundamental to determining the influence on a civilization.

In the end though his literary piece provided a means for thorough and lengthy debates on the future of America. Paine stated that society was a blessing, but government was a necessary evil. Men, he believed, gave tribute (land/wealth) to their government in exchange for safety, security, and the wills of those in positions of power. However Paine noted that in Britain heredity in both the monarchy and the House of Lords acts as a barrier and created a sense of isolation for those who govern and those who are governed.

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

Both the English Bill of Rights and Thomas Paine's Common Sense displayed interesting and creditable views regarding how to develop and maintain a well-functioning society through a well-structured government. The English Bill of Rights aligned a list of basic rights granted to individuals which included fair taxation and forbid cruel and unusual punishment. Common Sense is a well articulate essay that urges for the independence of the thirteen colonies from the British. In his text, Paine noted the importance of differentiating society and government, and condemned the practices of British monarchies (Paine, 62). Both documents theorized that political authority over the people should be fluid and well-constructed through a fair and equal governing body in order to ensure a equal and well-functioning society .

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

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

Thomas Jefferson, one of the greatest revolutionary thinkers that ever existed, believed in the power of rebellion. He reasoned that conflict between government and the people occurred naturally. Jefferson “ hold[s] it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing” because he believes it to be “as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.” This deep quote relates to the theme of conflict since conflicts between governments and their people lead to rebellions. Furthermore, this quote indicates that conflict plays an important role in society even at the national level.

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 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

Ashleigh Murphy 9/26/16 English 3A Ms. Abriani Research Project Thomas Paine 's essays Common Sense and The Crisis are two pieces of literature that relate to the common people, and with it’s message helped instill hope in those unsure of what the outcome for their country, their families, and their freedom would be. These writings have inspired everyone and anyone willing to read it because his literature pieces appealed to all who were interested. No man was superior to another when it came to these essays, because everyone was capable of understanding them. The main points of these writings reflected the main problems between British and American Independence, and his goals were to unify America as one nation.

These principles can be seen throughout the writings of the political thinkers of the 1890’s and illuminate how this category of thought is familiar to the American life. Ignatius Donnelly, a social reformer who helped establish the Populist party in 1892, heavily criticised the oligarchical society that took advantage of the large, impoverished working class. To this ailment he offers the solution by stating that government should not be viewed “as a divine something which has fallen down upon us out of heaven, and therefore not to be improved upon or even criticised” instead, government is a “human device to secure human happiness, and in itself has no more sacredness than a wheelbarrow or a cooking pot” (790). Donnelly stresses that the

# 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

“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

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.