1 Thomas Paine’s The Rights of Man
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Bernadette McAliskey
Abstract
Edmund burke published a damning criticism of the French Revolution, to which among others both Thomas Paine and Mary Wollstonecraft responded. Unlike the revolutionary activism of Paine, Political Justice was more abstractly philosophical and in turn inspired the radicals amongst the 'romantic' poets, particularly Shelley. For publishing and circulating The Rights of Man Paine had to flee to France in 1792 and was never able to return. Ironically the validity of Paine's theories in the twenty-first century can only be understood by recognition of the limitations of practice or application of principle of his own theory in his own time. Paine argued that since each human being already possessed natural and inalienable rights, it was irrational to argue that legislation gave the people these rights. It is Paine's adherence to an uncompromising intellectual concept of democracy in theory and practice that makes him challenging in the twenty-first century.
Abstract
Edmund burke published a damning criticism of the French Revolution, to which among others both Thomas Paine and Mary Wollstonecraft responded. Unlike the revolutionary activism of Paine, Political Justice was more abstractly philosophical and in turn inspired the radicals amongst the 'romantic' poets, particularly Shelley. For publishing and circulating The Rights of Man Paine had to flee to France in 1792 and was never able to return. Ironically the validity of Paine's theories in the twenty-first century can only be understood by recognition of the limitations of practice or application of principle of his own theory in his own time. Paine argued that since each human being already possessed natural and inalienable rights, it was irrational to argue that legislation gave the people these rights. It is Paine's adherence to an uncompromising intellectual concept of democracy in theory and practice that makes him challenging in the twenty-first century.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Acknowledgements x
- Introduction 1
- 1 Thomas Paine’s The Rights of Man 8
- 2 William Thompson’s Practical Education for the South of Ireland 21
- 3 James Connolly’s Labour in Irish History 38
- 4 Robert Tressell’s The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists 54
- 5 Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex 71
- 6 Thomas Szasz’s The Myth of Mental Illness 88
- 7 Kwame Ture and Charles Hamilton’s Black Power: The Politics of Liberation 105
- 8 Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed 123
- 9 Ivan Illich’s Tools for Conviviality 140
- 10 Adrienne Rich’s On Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence 157
- 11 The Brundtland Committee’s Our Common Future 175
- Concluding remarks 192
- Bibliography 198
- Index 211
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Acknowledgements x
- Introduction 1
- 1 Thomas Paine’s The Rights of Man 8
- 2 William Thompson’s Practical Education for the South of Ireland 21
- 3 James Connolly’s Labour in Irish History 38
- 4 Robert Tressell’s The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists 54
- 5 Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex 71
- 6 Thomas Szasz’s The Myth of Mental Illness 88
- 7 Kwame Ture and Charles Hamilton’s Black Power: The Politics of Liberation 105
- 8 Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed 123
- 9 Ivan Illich’s Tools for Conviviality 140
- 10 Adrienne Rich’s On Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence 157
- 11 The Brundtland Committee’s Our Common Future 175
- Concluding remarks 192
- Bibliography 198
- Index 211
