" Thus, he not only places him in the position of the politician, but also in that of the men. Nelson's perspective comes to complete Kaye's because both of them take into account, more or less, the human side of Thomas Paine, aside from the important issues that he generated in the American history. From this perspective, it is important to conclude the fact that indeed the political work was essential for the country, but it couldn't have been the result of anything but Paine's own experience and personality.
Lewis, Joseph. Inspiration and Wisdom from the Writings of Thomas Paine. New York, Freethought Press Association, 1954.
Joseph Lewis was one of the most important personalities in terms of analysis of ideas that revolutionized the philosophical environment. As a freethinker atheist, he dealt with subjects ranging from politics to contraception, trying to establish a different approach of the matters. The relation between politics and matters such as contraception lies in his own personal view and the way in which Lewis decided to approach them. For the purpose of the present paper, it is important to underline the aspects relating to the approach of political matters. He was largely influenced by Paine's ideas and thus he justified them as innovative due to their revolutionary nature and their importance for the respective moment. Thus, Lewis applied the notion of revolution in his analysis of Paine's pamphlet and underlined this aspect because he, in his turn, saw it as a shout to stand up against the British. However, this approach is the result of the competing ideas of Lewis's own philosophical thought.
Larkin, Edward. Thomas Paine and the literature of revolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
Larkin is assistant professor at Delaware University. His areas of interest are related especially related to the history of the U.S. And most importantly to the beginnings of the traditional American culture. This perspective resulted in the focalization on Paine's "Common sense" because of his interest...
He attempted to underline the intellectual side of Paine's ideas, while analyzing the way in which Paine addresses those ideas.
Kaye, Harvey. "Founding Father." American Heritage, Oct 2005. Vol. 56, issue 5, p 66-68.
This time, Kaye points out the fact that indeed, democracy, demands the freedom of all peoples. At the same time, the notion attracted at the time a lot of interest because the society was slowly aiming for a modern look. However, democracy, freedom are relative terms and demand a constitutional framework to ensure their application. In this sense, Paine argues more for political tolerance rather than institutions.
Claeys, Gregory. Thomas Paine: social and political thought. London: Routledge, 1989
Professor at Cambridge University, with an impressive collection of titles, references and academic achievements, Claeys considers that Paine's pamphlet is essential for the future evolution of the country, because, in the end, it was part of what would later be the American Constitution. Indeed, Paine advocated the idea of democracy and to a limited extent the notion of revolution. Claeys, due to his academic background was focused on the way the British experience evolved in relation to the American society.
Works Cited
Claeys, Gregory. Thomas Paine: social and political thought. London: Routledge, 1989.
Kaye, Harvey. "Founding Father." American Heritage, Oct 2005. Vol. 56, issue 5, p 66-68
Kaye, Harvey. Thomas Paine and the promise of America. New York: Hill and Wang, 2005.
Larkin, Edward. Thomas Paine and the literature of revolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
Lewis, Joseph. Inspiration and Wisdom from the Writings of Thomas Paine. New York, Freethought Press Association, 1954.
Nelson, Craig. Thomas Paine: Enlightenment, Revolution, and the Birth of Modern Nations.
New York: Penguin, 2007
