250 Years of Common Sense
An event observing the 250th anniversary of Common Sense gave students a look at how the ideas of American democracy spread throughout the colonies.
If Thomas Paine were writing today, his 47-page pamphlet Common Sense might be known as the most famous blog or podcast in the country. It was published in Philadelphia in January 1776 and quickly became a best-seller—distributed widely and often read aloud in large gatherings. Described as “the most incendiary and popular pamphlet of the entire revolutionary era,” Paine’s message made a persuasive case for American independence from England.
“Of the major texts we associate with the Revolution and the birth of the Republic, Common Sense is the earliest and the most democratic,” said Professor Avery Kolers, head of the Department of Philosophy. “It ushered in the Revolution. As a political pamphlet it is virtually unparalleled because it links the grievances of the colonists with fundamental issues in the theory of government.”
A February 10 campus event honored the 250th anniversary of this landmark publication. Students participated in a shared reading of the pamphlet, with each section introduced by faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Institute for American Civics.
The gathering was presented as a modern version of an 18th century American public house, complete with refreshments of chowder, brown bread, and cider. Participants were able to create their own hand-sewn pamphlets and make a letterpress print. Door prizes at the event included printed aprons and t-shirts. This hands-on community engagement was a collaboration across disciplines, giving students a sense of how philosophy, politics, history, and civics connect and interact, while also giving them a taste of the spirit of the time.
“Students were able to get a feel for how the pamphlet would actually have been experienced by the public,” said Kolers. “It was read aloud in taverns to cheers, shouting, and immediate feedback. This immersive experience helped students reflect on the social underpinnings of free political speech.”
Paine’s detailed and clearly worded argument made the case for independence from Britain, elevating the idea of democracy in ways that the nation’s founders could take to heart. It mattered that Paine addressed the colonists with clear argumentation and detailed refutations of contrary views.
“The idea that we owe it to others to give them reasons for our objections and back them up with evidence is at the heart of democracy,” said Kolers. “If politics is just a bunch of interest groups yelling at each other and jockeying for position, we won’t make any progress on the problems that beset us or the disputes that divide us.”
Kolers will offer more in-depth ideas related to the founding of the country this fall in his PHIL 391 Social and Political Philosophy class.
“I plan to organize it around the theme of ‘The Spirit of ’76,’” said Kolers. “We will juxtapose the major founding texts and others from the era with secondary literature and explorations of the questions of liberty, equality, economic growth, democracy, republicanism, and more.”
by Randall Brown
