THE RIGHTS OF MAN is Thomas Paine's famous answer to Burke's attack of the French Revolution leading to his prosecution by the English government for 'libel' in 1792. Within this pamphlet, written in plain language for the 'common, un-educated man', Paine defends the cause of the French Revolution linking his reasoning to a plain statement of ultimate political rights on behalf of the British people. Written as three parts and taken as a whole work The Rights of Man has a ring of modernity about it that sets it apart from all other writings of the time. For over 200 years ago Paine was advocating universal public education, children's allowances and old age pensions, for the public provision for work at wages for the unemployed and a progressive income tax. In his words' When it can be said by any country in the world, My poor are happy; neither ignorance nor distress is to be found among them: my jails are empty of prisoners, my streets of beggars; the aged are not in want; the taxes are not oppresive; the rational world is my friend, because I am the friend of happiness. When these things can be said, then may that country boast it's constitution and its government'. He demanded, not mere toleration, but a positive recognition that differences are beneficial and creative, and equal rights for all, irrespective of their divergent opinions. Whilst the State might be entitled to punish acts; it could never, under any circumstances, have the right to prosecute or penalize opinions. It was man's natural right to hold what views he pleased; and civil, or State rights could never abrobate natural rights, out of which out of which alone they could arise'. This is the voice ofeigtheeth-century enlightenment advocating democracy, such words put Paine in a category by himself amongst the great Radical Pioneers. Whilst he cannot be called a Socialist, as he preceded Socialism, his call for universal happiness is as relevant today as it ever was. This Illuminating, ground-breaking manuscript should be in every library and collection.
托马斯·潘恩(1737-1809),英裔美国思想家、作家、政治活动家、理论家、革命家、激进民主主义者。美利坚合众国的国家名称也出自潘恩。他撰写了铿锵有力并广为流传的小册子《常识》,极大地鼓舞了北美民众的独立情绪,也被广泛视为美国开国元勋之一。后来受到法国大革命影响,潘恩撰写了《人的权利》,成为启蒙运动的指导作品之一。
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这本书的文字风格,说实话,一开始有点让人摸不着头脑,因为它太像一位充满智慧的长者在跟邻家后生娓娓道来,而非一位严肃的政治哲学家在进行学术布道。它大量的采用了设问和反问的句式,语调极其亲切自然,仿佛在与读者进行一场关于“什么是公正的政府”的私密对话。然而,在这看似轻松的表象之下,隐藏着极其精妙的逻辑陷阱,每当他抛出一个看似简单的疑问,随后的论证往往能将你引向一个无可辩驳的结论。我尤其欣赏作者处理“革命”这一议题时的态度,他并没有将革命美化成一场纯粹的浪漫史诗,而是将其视为一种必要且理性的自卫行为,一种纠正历史错误的最后手段。这种务实中带着理想主义的光辉的叙事手法,使得全书的论述既有理论上的高度,又不失实践上的可行性。它让你相信,推翻一个不公的政权,需要的不仅仅是愤怒,更需要清晰的思路和坚定的信念。
评分这本书的结构布局,显示出作者极高的思辨能力和组织天赋。它并非一蹴而就的宣言,而是一个层层递进的论证迷宫,每走出迷宫的一个阶段,都有一个更为广阔的视野展现在眼前。从最初对法国大革命的辩护与回顾开始,作者巧妙地将焦点从特定的历史事件转移到了普遍的人类法则上来。这种由点到面的过渡处理得极其高明,使得这本书迅速超越了当时的政治辩论范畴,获得了永恒的价值。随后,他对宪法的理解,不再是僵化的条文集合,而是一个活的、需要不断被公民精神滋养的有机体。特别是他对“代议制”和“政府目的”的界定,清晰地划清了主权在民的底线。阅读体验是渐进式的,你感觉自己像是在跟随一位大师攀登一座知识的高山,每登上一个平台,对山下世界的理解就更加透彻一分。
评分这本书最让我感到震撼的,是它对“理性”的无条件推崇,以及对“传统”的审慎批判。作者毫不留情地指出,很多被奉为圭臬的制度和习俗,仅仅是因为它们存在了很久,而非因为它们是正确的或公正的。他挑战了那种“祖宗之法不可变”的保守思想,用逻辑的利刃去检验历史遗留物的有效性。他坚持认为,任何制度都必须接受当代人的理性检验,如果它违背了基本的人权原则,那么无论其历史多么悠久,都必须被果断抛弃。这种对进步和更新的坚定信念,使得全书洋溢着一种向前的、永不满足的探索精神。它让人意识到,政治不是一成不变的教条,而是一项需要不断修正和完善的工程。在阅读过程中,我能感受到一种强烈的时代召唤,那是一种要求我们不仅要继承历史,更要批判性地塑造未来的责任感。
评分当我合上这本书时,脑海中浮现的不是复杂的政治图表,而是一幅幅关于“人”的肖像。作者对于普通民众的细致观察和深刻同情,是贯穿全篇的一条情感主线。他描绘了在不公正的税收和法律制度下,劳动人民是如何被系统性地剥削和边缘化的。这种对底层疾苦的关注,使得他的政治主张立刻获得了强大的道德基础。与那些只关注上层建筑的空谈家不同,他将公民的福祉视为衡量政府优劣的唯一标准。例如,他对财政问题的探讨,不再是枯燥的数字游戏,而是与每一个家庭的生计紧密相连。这种将宏大政治理论落地到微观个体生活的技巧,让原本疏远的政治议题变得触手可及,充满了人情味。它迫使读者思考:我们所追求的“权利”,最终是为了让谁过上更好的生活?答案清晰而响亮——是为了每一个平凡的你我。
评分这本书的开篇就给我一种强烈的、近乎于挑衅的时代精神扑面而来的震撼感。它不像许多同时期的政治论著那样,沉溺于晦涩的法律条文或空洞的理想主义,反而采取了一种极其直白且充满力量的论辩方式。作者似乎抱着一种“非此即彼”的决心,直指当时社会结构中最核心的弊病——血统继承的权力合法性。我记得初读时,那种对“生而为王”观念的彻底解构,让人仿佛置身于一场思想的革命前夜。他细致地剖析了人权与天赋君权的对立,论证过程严密而富有激情,字里行间充满了对人类理性与尊严的无限信任。这种对旧秩序的毫不留情的批判,不仅仅是停留在理论层面,而是深入到社会运作的每一个角落,试图唤醒沉睡的大众,让他们认识到自身所拥有的、不应被任何世袭权力所剥夺的权利。阅读过程中,我常常需要停下来,反复咀嚼那些充满哲理的句子,它们如同锋利的冰锥,刺破了笼罩在政治现实之上的迷雾。整本书的基调是激昂的,预示着一场必然到来的变革,那种势不可挡的历史洪流感,让人难以忘怀。
评分A response to Burke. Man's natural right. The radical branch of Lockean liberalism
评分A response to Burke. Man's natural right. The radical branch of Lockean liberalism
评分A response to Burke. Man's natural right. The radical branch of Lockean liberalism
评分A response to Burke. Man's natural right. The radical branch of Lockean liberalism
评分A response to Burke. Man's natural right. The radical branch of Lockean liberalism
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