Revolutionary Philosophy

Paper Summary:

This paper illustrates how Karl Marx and Thomas Paine shared many philosophies and had surprisingly similar ideas in many areas. The paper discusses their ideas of class and the need for revolutionary reform. The paper shows how they both felt strongly about the poor and that the different levels in society that led to rich and poor classes needed to be altered. The paper emphasizes that both philosophers advocated change that would make governments and life better for everyone in society, not just for those at the topmost levels of the social ladder.

From the Paper:

"Karl Marx and Thomas Paine both reject their past experiences with government and hope for reform that will make government and society more equal. They also are concerned with the poor, and the social classes that create poor and rich, owner and worker. Paine is especially concerned with the British cycle of government that creates vast levels of society that create kings and subjects, with little room for growth and change at either level. He writes, "But there is another and greater distinction for which no truly natural or religious reason can be assigned, and that is, the distinction of men into KINGS and SUBJECTS" (Paine, 1995, p. 11). This of course is what the English government and society was based on, and what America's early government was founded on."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Marx, K. (1959). Capital, the Communist manifesto and other writings (M. Eastman, Ed.). New York: The Modern Library.
• Paine, T. (1995). Rights of man, common sense, and other political writings (M. Philp, Ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

More papers on Revolutionary Philosophy:

• Book Review # 132470 : "Mason's "Revolutionary Europe" - a Review"
• Comparison Essay # 61460 : "The Philosophy of Scientific Revolutions"
• Term Paper # 99413 : "Mussolini as Revolutionary"

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