Essay about Paine and Burke - 1644 Words

HOW FAR DO POLITICAL PHILOSOPHIES OF EITHER HOBBES AND LOCKE OR PAINE AND BURKE DIFFER. This essay will examine the philosophical difference between Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine relating to the French and American Revolutions at the late Eighteenth Century. We are going to present a summary of the debate between these two different philosophers in the first part of this essay. The pros and cons of each man will be looked at in the second and third part of the essay and the final part of this essay will explain why Thomas Paines view was more accepted and legitimate in America than Edmund Burke. In summary this essay will compare and contrast both Paine and Burke views of natural rights, human nature and the government. Burke and†¦show more content†¦Burke also argued against natural rights and explained a custom and practice that develops relation between the government and people. Paine believed in equality and criticised the monarch being chosen by the hereditary succession and by the choice of the people. He wanted the British Constitution to be written because he saw it as not right, and it was brought in during the Glorious Revolution in 1688. According to Burke, there is no natural right for people to choose their governors thus this right is just to degrade the state and bring it lower. Burke did not believe in democracy in any shape or form and saw human rights as being given to you traditionally. For Burke there is no such a thing like equality because some people will always be on the top and others in the bottom and any attempt to change will result in revolution like what happened in France. He argued against the rising ignorance among the people and the importance of education and the tradition being kept. Paine being an egalitarian disagreed with Burke once again, because he saw social contract as consent between the people rather than government and emphasised on non-educated not necessarily stupid as Burke saw them. They have views and being educated will help them do better. Paine believed in ordinary people being given a chance to play political role in society. In addition he believed in the Rights of Man for everybody and everyone have should have the rightShow MoreRelatedThomas Paine vs. Edmund Burke Essay854 Words   |  4 Pagesof their political views. Thomas Paine took the side of the French, opposing his own country, because he believed in a system where people can govern themselves. Edmund Burke took the side of the English because he was supporting his country and believed in a system where there needs to be a higher power to keep people in their place. Thomas Paine was a radical in the way he thought and believed in a total reform of the way people were living at that time. Burke was a Conservative and believed thatRead MoreThe View Of Human Nature : Thomas Paine And Edmund Burke930 Words   |  4 Pagesconstantly being used in the European Middle Ages to describe the view of human nature for Thomas Paine and Edmund Burke. Although both authors have differing views of what it means to be free and equal, they also show differences in their attitude against the type of government within society. With so many differences of opinions between these authors it seems as if there is not much common ground. For Thomas Paine, his ideas center on the fact of every man being equal, God would not want his followers toRead MoreEdmund Burke and Thomas Paine: A Comparative Analysis of Their Views on the French Revolution913 Words   |  4 PagesEdmund Burke and Thomas Paine differed strongly on their views of the French revolution and the wisdom of the proceedings of the French National Assembly in 1789-90. 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