In this episode we unpack "Common Sense" by English-American Political Activist Thomas Paine.
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Links to Reading & Articles mentioned
*note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode!
Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com
Guest: Jared Shoup
Music: Polyenso
Time Stamps
0:00:00 Introduction
0:05:01 Historical Context of Common Sense
0:13:37 Thomas Paine’s Background
0:20:48 The Differences Between Society and Government
00:25:00 Government as a Necessary Evil
00:27:28 Anti-Monarchy Sentiments in The Old Testament
0:30:11 Parallels Between The 12 Tribes of Israel and The 13 American Colonies
0:32:01 The Origins of Kings
0:35:35 Paine’s Critiques of Hereditary Succession
00:37:35 Paine’s Critiques of Constitutional Monarchy
0:42:13 The Disease of Monarchy
0:44:19 Paine’s Ad Hominem Attacks
0:45:14 The Present State of American Affairs
0:46:26 Why Separation from England is Necessary
0:47:40 England as “The Mother Country”
0:50:00 Why America Doesn’t Need England for Protection
0:51:16 Why America Doesn’t Need England for Trade
0:52:20 Logistical Nightmare of Communication with England
0:53:52 Why Now is the Time for Separation
0:54:58 The Paradoxical Correlation between a Nation’s Population and Military Size
0:58:00 “Relapse More Wretched Than the First”
0:59:56 Paine’s Ideas in What an American Government Should Look Like
1:04:06 America’s Naval Potential
1:07:44 Paine’s Call to Unite America
1:10:35 The Impact of “Common Sense”
1:13:05 Wrapping Up/Outro