The History of Revolutionary Ideas: French Revolution 3: Paine
Mar 9, 2025
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Richard Whatmore, a historian of ideas, joins to delve into the revolutionary fervor of Thomas Paine, whose writings inspired movements across continents. Paine viewed France as the epicenter of change, yet found his lofty hopes met with disappointment. The conversation navigates the ideological clash between republicanism and monarchy, the paradox of war for liberty, and how evolving rights often sidelined gender and minority issues. Their discussion reveals the complexities of revolutionary ideals amidst the harsh realities of governance.
Thomas Paine's initial optimism about revolutionary potential in France evolved from viewing it as corrupt to seeing it as a reformist beacon.
Paine's ideological rift with Edmund Burke illustrated contrasting views on freedom and governance during the tumult of the French Revolution.
Despite championing egalitarianism in 'The Rights of Man', Paine's later disillusionment revealed the complexities and dangers inherent in revolutionary fervor.
Deep dives
The Complexity of Thomas Paine's Ideas
Thomas Paine initially viewed the New World as the beacon of hope for liberty, distancing himself from Europe, which he believed to be rife with corruption. He was pivotal in igniting the American Revolution with his pamphlet 'Common Sense', yet his perspective evolved as he engaged with the swirling revolutionary ideas in France. By the 1780s, he began to see potential for reform in Europe, responding to the French involvement in the American Revolution, which he felt was crucial for its success. This shift in perception exemplifies his complex relationship with revolutionism, where he grappled with the balance between monarchy and republican ideals.
Paine and the French Revolution
Paine returned to France, where he became increasingly optimistic about the possibilities of reform within the French monarchy, especially under the influence of thinkers like Condorcet. He believed the French Revolution could achieve republican reform without completely dismantling the monarchy, a stance that positioned him differently from more radical revolutionaries. Despite his republican ideals, he felt that initiating reform within existing structures could lead to stability and progressive change. This nuanced view highlights his evolving conviction that revolutions could take varied forms rather than being synonymous with total upheaval.
The Pivotal Disagreement with Edmund Burke
The intellectual rift between Paine and Edmund Burke centers around their conflicting interpretations of the state and revolution, particularly in response to the French Revolution. Burke viewed Britain as a free state and criticized the chaotic governance in France, while Paine saw Britain as a failing state and looked to France as a new paradigm for freedom. Their differing conclusions led to heated debates on what constituted true liberty, with Paine asserting that revolutionary France represented a liberating force against oppressive systems. This exchange captures the deep ideological fissures within revolutionary thought and the differing paths each theorist advocated for achieving political freedom.
Paine's Vision of Rights and Equality
In 'The Rights of Man', Paine outlined a vision of egalitarianism that championed the removal of aristocracy yet faced criticism for his exclusion of women and issues of slavery. His stance reflected a belief that once freed from corrupt systems, people would inherently act in their best interests to foster a new society of equals. However, as the realities of the French Revolution unfolded, Paine's optimism waned, leading him to reassess the role of people in governance and the necessity of civic duties. Ultimately, his earlier radical egalitarianism gave way to pragmatism as he witnessed the struggle of maintaining order amidst revolutionary fervor.
The Paradox of Revolutionary Enthusiasm
Paine's journey through the revolutionary landscape led him to embrace the notion that war might serve as a catalyst for achieving liberty, a stance that contradicted his early views on the perils of international conflict. He believed that the French Revolution could inspire global change, thus necessitating a relentless fight against oppressive regimes to secure freedom. However, this perspective highlighted a dangerous paradox where revolutionary enthusiasm could spawn chaos and tyranny, a departure from Paine's original vision of reason and rational governance. His later years reflected an increasing disillusionment, as Paine became aware that the very fervor that once motivated him could also unravel the ideals he championed.
For our third episode on the ideas behind the French Revolution, David talks to Richard Whatmore about the ubiquitous Thomas Paine, the Englishman who championed revolutionary politics around the world. How did Paine come to see France as the locus of all his revolutionary hopes? How were those hopes ultimately disappointed? And what happened to Paine’s vision of the Rights of Man?
Out now on PPF+: a special bonus episode on King Donald The First. David explores the arguments being made in 2025 for the restoration of monarchy in America. Who’s making them and why? What on earth are they thinking? Sign up now to get this and all our bonus episodes plus ad-free listening https://www.ppfideas.com/join-ppf-plus
Next time: Slave uprising: the Haitian Revolution
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