Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Tom Paine's Common Sense Response 1
In Tom Paine's "Common Sense" he defends the revolution or American claiming "The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth" (161). He then goes on to say that "For in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries law ought to be King" (166). In considering his attitudes and the enlightenment philosophy we have read, discuss the significance of such statements and why they would be so radical.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
11 comments:
I think that what Tom Paine means by "The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth" is that there was never an issue before that deserved such attention as the issue of Monarchy and kings. I think that he is saying that it is such an issue that we should look to reform it in anyway so that it is more fair to all citizens.
I think that what Tom Paine means by the second quote is that instead of having the king set the laws, and therefore any laws he wants, we should have a constant set of laws that apply to every citizen and ruler and have those rule the society rather that having the king in total control of society, making whatever rules he desires.
In Tom Paine's "Common Sense" he says, "The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth" (161). I think Paine is talking about multiple topics in that quote. I think "the greater worth" is the new era of politics he discusses, which involves continental union, faith, reconciliation and the struggle between kings and citizens. Tom Paine's quote is saying that the continent (the people) are challenging kings' authority, which is a big deal of great importance and worth.
I think Paine's second quote is saying that in an absolute government, the king can make any law he wants and all the citizens have to abide by it. So in a free country, the citizens should be able to make their own laws for themsleves to follow.
I think that the first qoute,"The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth," is saying that the citezens and government never focussed on a issue of equal wealth so much before. The struggle between having a king or having a Monarchy, was much of a struggle for the people at the time. The community wanted a more fair and equal government, while the king was not giving that to them.
In the second quote I think Paine is saying that the king wanted to make all the rules, but the citizens or community didn't agree with that. Because the king wanted to make all the rules he wanted to have the community abide and follow them without a say. The citizens wanted to be able to make there own rules and follow what they created and made.
The two quotes have great significance in regards to the elightenment philosophy and both are very radical for their time. In the first quote it is explaining how there has never been a more significant reason for revolt that is in existance here with the Americans. The "sun" is representing a bright future for the Americans and that the outcome when they revolt will be beneficial. Paine is saying that the Americans should revolt because there are so many strong reasons for it. This is a radical idea because Paine would get arrested if the British found out about his writing because it is telling the Americans to revolt and that there is an outstanding number of reasons for it. In the second quote it is a radical idea because it is saying down with the King of england and that the way he rules is wrong. This thinking was not existant about the monarchy before Paine. The quote is explaining how society should be ruled by laws that relate to the purposes for the society as a whole. Society should not be run by a King who does not represent society of a whole and the King should not decide all laws.
In the first statement Tom Paine basically says that freedom and independence is the best reason to go to war there is. this is would be considered a radical statement because to support the revolution in America was considered treason by the British. His next statement basically means that the only absolute control in the government should be the laws. This would be considered radical simply because it is suggesting replacing the king with them.
"The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth." This quote represents the relationship between the United States and England, and how it is a matter that is being watched by the world. "Tis not the affair of a city, a country, a province, or a kingdom, but of a continent - of at least one eight part of the habitual globe." Paine states that he thinks the relationship that is developing between the 2 countries will and has involved the rest of the world. He knows that the fate of either country depends on whoever comes out on top.
The second quote relates to the first quote greatly in America's relationship with Great Britain. The U.S. doesn't need Britain to survive like in the earliest days of the country. Paine also thinks though that without the strength of England, America would not have turned out as prospourus and strong as they were when he wrote "Common Sense".
In Thomas Paine's first quote, "The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth," Paine is referring to the United States as the cause. People in the United States thought that they were God's chosen country and wanted them to be a free. Whenever the Americans won a war it was because of some miraculous event and people just interpretted these as acts of God who wanted the U.S. to succeed and prosper. Paine beleives that what the United States is doing is revolutionary and very important so he says that the "sun has never shined on a cause of greater worth" meaning that there has never been such an important cuase in the world.
In the second quote, Thomas Paine says "For in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries law ought to be King." Paine is basically saying that instead of having a King rule people like in a monarchy, fair laws will rule people that will apply equally to everyone. This is radical thinking because this had never successfully been done in history before the time of the United States. The U.S. was the first of many things all of which contribute to its success and power today.
I believe that tom paine was speaking of having set rules in a society. This not allowing a king to make, and be a legislator of these laws.
STEVE
I think that Tom Paine ment that never has such an issue been of greater importance then the issue of revolution or American Claiming
In the second quote he says that governments should be run by kings. But he says that in absolute governments the king is the law. And in free countries the law should be king. He is trying to say that in free countries the place of the king should be taken by law.
The quote "The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth" (161), shows that he is showing a strong opinion on the rising up again England. The cause is the seperation from England and the sun represents the good that will come from it. When one shines light on a situation, you make it better. If the light is shining on the seperation from England, than it is a very important cause to make good come into America.
The quote "For in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries law ought to be King" (166), is a large signifigance to the people of America because they are so use to the King making the laws and saying what will happen. But, in America, they will have laws that form the leader instead of the leader forming the laws. The laws will apply to everyone.
These statements are radical because the people of America are so use to staying back and not taking any action. When Paine says good will come out of rebelling against England, it is kind of taboo in a sense because they are trying to form a friendship rather than conquere them. Also Paine says that they will have laws that form the ruler and this is a new concept that has never been experienced by them. Paine is making statements that could rise tension.
If you do something that you're not genuinely passionate about, it is a little soul-crushing. Just not worth it. See the link below for more info.
#worth
www.ufgop.org
Post a Comment