Past Present Future The History of Revolutionary Ideas: French Revolution 1: Sieyès
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Mar 2, 2025 Lucia Rubinelli, a historian specializing in Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès and the French Revolution, delves into the intriguing life of this pivotal figure. She discusses Sieyès's groundbreaking pamphlet, 'What is the Third Estate?' which challenged the status quo. The conversation also covers Sieyès’s struggle with his vision for governance as he faced the rise of Napoleon. Listeners gain insights into the transformative dynamics of authority and representation during the revolution, revealing lasting impacts on modern political thought.
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Sieyès's Radical Question
- Sieyès's pamphlet "What is the Third Estate?" posed a radical question.
- He argued the Third Estate was "everything" yet treated as "nothing", igniting revolutionary sentiment.
Defining the Nation
- Sieyès argued that a nation's productive members constitute the nation itself.
- The clergy and aristocracy, being non-productive, were deemed parasitic, not part of the nation.
The Pamphlet's Impact
- Sieyès's pamphlet gained immense popularity and sparked debate.
- Members of the first and second estates began to defect, highlighting the impact of his ideas.