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The Misunderstood Philosophy of Thomas Paine

Kinsel, Jason Anthony
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1132-9501
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1447685875

Abstract Details

2015, Master of Arts, University of Akron, History.
The name Thomas Paine is often associated with his political pamphlet Common Sense. The importance of “Common Sense” in regards to the American Revolution has been researched and debated by historians, political scientists, and literary scholars. While they acknowledge that Paine’s ideas and writing style helped to popularize the idea of separation from Great Britain in 1776, a thorough analysis of the entirety of Paine’s philosophy has yet to be completed. Modern scholars have had great difficulty with categorizing works such as, The Rights of Man, Agrarian Justice, and Paine’s Dissertation on First Principles of Government. Ultimately, these scholars feel most comfortable with associating Paine with the English philosopher John Locke. This thesis will show that Paine developed a unique political philosophy that is not only different from Locke’s in style, but fundamentally opposed to the system of government designed by Locke in his Second Treatise of Government. Furthermore, I will provide evidence that Paine’s contemporary’s in the American Colonies and Great Britain vehemently denied that Paine’s ideas resembled those of Locke in any way. Finally, this thesis will illustrate the importance and impact of Paine’s political philosophy in England and Ireland throughout the 1790’s.
Gina Martino-Trutor (Committee Member)
Walter Hixson (Advisor)
127 p.
American History; European History; History; Philosophy; Political Science
Thomas Paine; John Locke; Edmund Burke; Philosophy; Revolution

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Citations

  • Kinsel, J. A. (2015). The Misunderstood Philosophy of Thomas Paine [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1447685875

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kinsel, Jason. The Misunderstood Philosophy of Thomas Paine. 2015. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1447685875.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kinsel, Jason. "The Misunderstood Philosophy of Thomas Paine." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1447685875

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1447685875
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This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.