Common Sense

Name: Common Sense
ISBN: 9787205086107

Thomas PaineLiaoning People's Publishing House · ChinaMay 2017

Rating 4.1

Word count: 144K words
Chapters: 28
ISBN: 9787205086107

Summary

The greatest role this pamphlet played was that it spread the idea of "republic," igniting in people a strong desire for "independence" and for taking up arms to contend with Britain, that powerful ruler. And it offered not only inspiration but also solutions. It pointed out to the people the harms of British tyranny and the decay of its judicial system; it also told them that a free nation should be established. Thomas Paine knew that many people had from the start fantasized about compromising with the British ruler. In his pamphlet he warned the people that only "independence" is the road to freedom.

Editor's review

Thomas Paine's Common Sense is not a daunting philosophical treatise but a political pamphlet that ignited the mood of an era at a particular historical moment. Published anonymously in Philadelphia in early 1776, this pamphlet of fewer than 50 pages argued, in clear, forceful, and plain language, for the legitimacy and urgency of the North American colonies' breaking away from British rule and establishing an independent republic. Discarding the elaborate rhetoric and legal citations fashionable at the time, Paine used "common sense" directly as a weapon, addressing the broadest ordinary public—artisans, farmers, merchants—and transforming a constitutional debate that might have remained confined to the elite into a mass movement that took deep root in people's hearts. He eloquently pointed out that hereditary monarchy violates nature and reason, that the right of sons and grandsons to rule over others is absurd; that an island far from the American continent has no right to rule this vast land; and that the fantasy of reconciliation will only bring more oppression and enslavement. His writing is full of passion and conviction, with lines such as "Now is the time for the continent to unite, to pledge its faith, and to exert its full strength" and "Freedom has been hunted around the globe; Asia and Africa have long expelled her; Europe regards her as a stranger; and England has given her a warning to depart," which are highly inflammatory. Reading Common Sense today, its historical significance far exceeds its specific arguments. It is an early exemplar of modern political propaganda, showing how ideas can shape public opinion through mass media and drive historical progress. Readers can not only feel the fervent atmosphere on the eve of the American War of Independence but also reflect on the fundamental role of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and civic participation in shaping a nation's destiny. The book's enduring value lies in reminding us that those modern political principles we take for granted (such as republicanism, self-government, and human rights) were once "common sense" that needed to be courageously spoken and fought for.

Who it's for

A good fit for

History enthusiasts interested in the American War of Independence and the origins of modern democracy
Readers who wish to learn how to write and persuade publicly in clear, forceful language
Thinkers concerned with foundational concepts in political philosophy such as "revolution," "rights," and "legitimacy"
General readers who want to understand how a single pamphlet can influence the course of history

Not a good fit for

Scholars expecting a systematic, theoretical work of political philosophy
Readers seeking only light entertainment reading

Reading tips

It is recommended to read alongside documents such as the Declaration of Independence and The Federalist Papers to understand Common Sense's place in the intellectual lineage
While reading, pay attention to Paine's argumentative strategy: how he translates complex political questions into "common sense" that ordinary people can understand
Consider which issues today call for a new "common sense"

About the publisher

Liaoning People's Publishing House China · Founded in 1951

Liaoning People's Publishing House is a local publisher focusing on works in the social sciences. Its publishing areas cover philosophy, politics, economics, history and law, and also include dictionaries and reference books. It currently has 332 titles in the database. Its publishing profile is best reflected in translations of foreign literature and Western philosophy, with common categories including foreign literature, Western philosophy and Eastern philosophy. Representative books include English-language editions or translations of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, Cervantes's Don Quixote, Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment and The Idiot, Hugo's Les Misérables, Hume's A Treatise of Human Nature and Eliot's Middlemarch. Its author resources involve Homer, Cervantes, Dostoevsky, Victor Hugo, David Hume, George Eliot and Alexis de Tocqueville. As public information is limited, its specific publishing features require further confirmation through more bibliographic data.

版权信息
Is This Book for You? 常识与革命——“最经典英语文库”第六辑之《常识》导读
Thomas Paine
General Preface
总序
PREFACE
OF THE ORIGIN AND DESIGN OF GOVERNMENT IN GENERAL, WITH CONC
OF MONARCHY AND HEREDITARY SUCCESSION
THOUGHTS ON THE PRESENT STATE OF AMERICAN AFFAIRS
OF THE PRESENT ABILITY OF AMERICA, WITH SOME MISCELLANEOUS R
APPENDIX
OTHER WRITINGS OF THOMAS PAINE
EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION
BEING AN ANSWER TO MR. BURKE'S ATTACK ON THE FRENCH REVOLOUT
PAINE'S PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH EDITION
PAINE'S PREFACE TO THE FRENCH EDITION
PART ONE OF RIGHTS OF MAN
OBSERVATIONS ON THE DECLARATION OF RIGHTS
CONCLUSION
PART TWO OF RIGHTS OF MAN
PART THREE OF RIGHTS OF MAN
OF SOCIETY AND CIVILISATION
OF THE ORIGIN OF THE PRESENT OLD GOVERNMENTS
OF THE OLD AND NEW SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT
OF CONSTITUTIONS
WAYS AND MEANS OF IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF EUROPE
APPENDIX
THE AUTHOR'S NOTES

FAQ

What are the main arguments of Common Sense?

The book's core argument is a strong call for the thirteen North American colonies to immediately declare independence from Britain and establish a republican government. Paine criticizes the irrationality of hereditary monarchy, rejects the fantasy of reconciliation with Britain, and argues that independence is a natural right and that the time is ripe.

How much influence did this book have at the time?

Enormous influence. It sold hundreds of thousands of copies within months, greatly mobilizing support among the North American public and laying the groundwork of public opinion for the birth of the Declaration of Independence. General Washington ordered it read aloud to his troops to boost morale.

What can today's readers still gain from this book?

Beyond historical knowledge, readers can appreciate the intellectual passion and the power of public debate during a revolutionary era. It is a classic about courage, clear expression, and civic responsibility, reminding people of the need to challenge old authorities and defend freedom with reason.

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About the author

Thomas Paine Author · English-American · 1737–1809

Thomas Paine (1737–1809) was an English-born American writer, political pamphleteer and thinker, with 11 works available on this site. He went to North America in 1774 and in 1776 published Common Sense, which argued for independence and deeply influenced the American Revolution; during the war he wrote the American Crisis series to boost morale. He later wrote Rights of Man, defending the French Revolution and republicanism, and was consequently wanted in Britain; The Age of Reason set out his deist views. His works, known for political argument, philosophy and literature, are direct and forceful in style and are classified under politics, foreign literature, philosophy and psychology. He returned to America in 1802 and died in poverty in New York in 1809.