Comparing Paine And Burke's Views

The Rights of Man is a collection of several articles which insights radical political revolution when a country’s current government is not maintaining and protecting the rights of its society. The book was widely accepted, reprinted and distributed in support of the French revolution and was read aloud in coffee houses and inns in the newfound ‘coffee house culture’. The document states that ‘every age and generation must be as free to act for itself, in all cases, as the ages and generations which preceded it’. This extract therefore opposes the idea that government is hereditary and current society should be entitled to choose their own laws which to be governed by. It was due to ideas such as these that Paine was eventually tried in
absentia and convicted for seditious libel against the crown, but as he failed to return to England he did not fulfil his punishment.
Paine states ‘I am contending for the rights of the living, and against their being willed away, and controuled and contracted for, by the manuscript assumed authority of the dead; and Mr Burke is contending for the authority of the dead over the rights and freedom of the living.’ Paine and Burke’s views contradicted each other greatly, as can be seen here.
Paine argued that the French revolution was to be expected as a continuation of a new era of human history, but Burke argued that the revolution brought the risk of devolving into a barbaric society and promoted the destruction of a nation’s social fabric. Paine’s beliefs that the government’s political principles of enlightenment was to protect individuals liberty and equality however Burke disagreed and was a non-believer of abstract principles guaranteeing liberty. He believed humans were a product of their environment, institutions and communities. Burke believed that the traditions of institutions were able to provide public safety. This is why Paine states he is contending for the rights of the living, he states that it is societies decision to choose their
government.
Paine is famed for ensuring his literature is accessible for all and is easy to read. This can be seen to be hinted at towards the end of the source ‘In England, no parent or master, nor all the authority of parliament, omnipotent as it has called itself, can bind or control the personal freedom even of an individual beyond the age of twenty-one years: On what ground of right, then, could the parliament of 1688, or any other parliament, bind posterity for ever?’ Paine states that once a child reaches the age of 21 he becomes his own person (i.e. an adult) and cannot be ruled or governed. He then rhetorically asks why the government thinks they’re able to control all future generations of society once they reach a certain age and also when those who are creating the rules have passed away.
Paine wrote and self-published his articles to ensure society as a whole had access to fair, and legal information intended to make them question their government.
As an avid supporter of the French revolution and the American Constitution he was keen to propose reformations of the English government. Paine suggested the elimination of all aristocratic titles because he believed that ‘when a man ceases to be, his power and his wants cease with him’ . Paine also suggested lower taxes for the poor alongside a subsidised education for their children and also a progressive income tax weighted against wealthy estates to prevent the emergence of a hereditary aristocracy. This follows Paine’s argument that once an individual has passed away his wealth, power and inheritance is no longer valid. This counteracts Burke’s ideas that tradition is the correct way for
society.
Burkes ideology of a hereditary society is completely opposed in The Rights of Man. Paine states ‘but the parliamentary clauses upon which Mr Burke builds his political church, are of the same nature’. Paine believes that religion is irrelevant to building society whereas Burke believed government could be a trustworthy relationship between religion, monarch and society itself.
The source provided clearly states Paine’s ‘radical’ ideology towards society in a time where those being governed did not have much knowledge of the subject. With politics being an issue only those with education could attempt to understand, Paine’s notion of creating a document easily accessible and digestible for all. The stark contrast between Paine and Burke’s ideologies paved a new way for the British government for Burke was considered one of the founders of British conservatism and Paine being considered a revolutionary and an extremely influential person of the modern era. Paine wanted to remove Britain’s monarchy and create a new British republic which can be seen in many aspects of the chosen source. The source portrays Paine’s radical, revolutionary, independent ideologies and is an inspirational piece to this day. Paine’s aim was to educate the masses to the social and political injustices they were experiencing and he succeeded.