French Revolution Controversy: Burke/ Paine
ESSAY FLORA DI VINCENZO
PAINE /BURKE: FRENCH REVOLUTION CONTROVERSY
Introduction During the French Revolution, two writers created an important controversy: Thomas Paine and Edmund Burke. They represented two opposing ideologies: conservatism (Burke) and radical liberalism (Paine). The main idea of Burke was warning of the dangers of trying to shape society according to abstract concepts and ideals, and as a representative of traditional English Conservatism. For Paine, it was to foreseeing the welfare state. It was Edmund Burke who started the controversy. His Reflections on the Revolution in France was published in London on 1 November 1790, and created a sensation in the literary and political world. Newspapers such as The Times and The St. James Chronicle published extracts from it. "Within our remembrance" wrote The London Chronicle on 2 November, "no publication has excited more anxious curiosity." King George III was reported to have said that every gentleman should read it. Seven thousand copies of the book were sold in the first week, and it was reprinted several times before the end of the year.
Notice that, the pamphlets, newspapers and periodicals are the only evidence of public reaction to these two famous books: Burke Reflections, and Paine Rights of Man, Part I.
But what exactly was the controversy about? The dispute might be considered as being primarily concerned with the merits and demerits of the French revolution. But it might also be interpreted as a discussion of rights and government.
To understand this controversy, let’s take a look at the two authors and at their main ideas. First, I’m going to introduce Edmund Burke, and then Thomas Paine. We are going to see a short biography of them and go trough their main thoughts about the human rights and the French revolution. The thoughts and quotes of each author are taken from their respective books.
Comparison of Burke and Paine’s thoughts about French
PAINE /BURKE: FRENCH REVOLUTION CONTROVERSY
Introduction During the French Revolution, two writers created an important controversy: Thomas Paine and Edmund Burke. They represented two opposing ideologies: conservatism (Burke) and radical liberalism (Paine). The main idea of Burke was warning of the dangers of trying to shape society according to abstract concepts and ideals, and as a representative of traditional English Conservatism. For Paine, it was to foreseeing the welfare state. It was Edmund Burke who started the controversy. His Reflections on the Revolution in France was published in London on 1 November 1790, and created a sensation in the literary and political world. Newspapers such as The Times and The St. James Chronicle published extracts from it. "Within our remembrance" wrote The London Chronicle on 2 November, "no publication has excited more anxious curiosity." King George III was reported to have said that every gentleman should read it. Seven thousand copies of the book were sold in the first week, and it was reprinted several times before the end of the year.
Notice that, the pamphlets, newspapers and periodicals are the only evidence of public reaction to these two famous books: Burke Reflections, and Paine Rights of Man, Part I.
But what exactly was the controversy about? The dispute might be considered as being primarily concerned with the merits and demerits of the French revolution. But it might also be interpreted as a discussion of rights and government.
To understand this controversy, let’s take a look at the two authors and at their main ideas. First, I’m going to introduce Edmund Burke, and then Thomas Paine. We are going to see a short biography of them and go trough their main thoughts about the human rights and the French revolution. The thoughts and quotes of each author are taken from their respective books.
Comparison of Burke and Paine’s thoughts about French