An Analysis of Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France

An Analysis of Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France PDF Author: Riley Quinn
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1351351001
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 102

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Book Description
Edmund Burke’s 1791 Reflections on the Revolution in France is a strong example of how the thinking skills of analysis and reasoning can support even the most rhetorical of arguments. Often cited as the foundational work of modern conservative political thought, Burke’s Reflections is a sustained argument against the French Revolution. Though Burke is in many ways not interested in rational close analysis of the arguments in favour of the revolution, he points out a crucial flaw in revolutionary thought, upon which he builds his argument. For Burke, that flaw was the sheer threat that revolution poses to life, property and society. Sceptical about the utopian urge to utterly reconstruct society in line with rational principles, Burke argued strongly for conservative progress: a continual slow refinement of government and political theory, which could move forward without completely overturning the old structures of state and society. Old state institutions, he reasoned, might not be perfect, but they work well enough to keep things ticking along. Any change made to improve them, therefore, should be slow, not revolutionary. While `Burke’s arguments are deliberately not reasoned in the ‘rational’ style of those who supported the revolution, they show persuasive reasoning at its very best.

An Analysis of Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France

An Analysis of Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France PDF Author: Riley Quinn
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1351351001
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 102

Get Book

Book Description
Edmund Burke’s 1791 Reflections on the Revolution in France is a strong example of how the thinking skills of analysis and reasoning can support even the most rhetorical of arguments. Often cited as the foundational work of modern conservative political thought, Burke’s Reflections is a sustained argument against the French Revolution. Though Burke is in many ways not interested in rational close analysis of the arguments in favour of the revolution, he points out a crucial flaw in revolutionary thought, upon which he builds his argument. For Burke, that flaw was the sheer threat that revolution poses to life, property and society. Sceptical about the utopian urge to utterly reconstruct society in line with rational principles, Burke argued strongly for conservative progress: a continual slow refinement of government and political theory, which could move forward without completely overturning the old structures of state and society. Old state institutions, he reasoned, might not be perfect, but they work well enough to keep things ticking along. Any change made to improve them, therefore, should be slow, not revolutionary. While `Burke’s arguments are deliberately not reasoned in the ‘rational’ style of those who supported the revolution, they show persuasive reasoning at its very best.

Reflections on the Revolution in France

Reflections on the Revolution in France PDF Author: Edmund Burke
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 254

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Book Description


Reflections on the Revolution in France

Reflections on the Revolution in France PDF Author: Edmund Burke
Publisher: Open Road Media
ISBN: 1504083342
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 234

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Book Description
The eighteenth-century Anglo-Irish MP and philosopher offers his opinion on the early days of the French Revolution and his expectations of its outcome. The French Revolution began in 1789. In the following year, Edmund Burke, a member of Great Britain’s House of Commons, wrote one of the most famous arguments against the rebellion. The work started off as a letter to a friend of Burke’s family who had asked for his opinion on whether France’s new ruling class would succeed in establishing a better order. In Reflections on the Revolution in France, Burke presents his reply on a much larger scale. He offers “a dire warning of the consequences that would follow the mismanagement of change.” He contends the French Revolution would fail due to its foundation being constructed upon individualism and ignoring human nature and society. With thoroughness, rhetorical skill, and literary power, Burke ultimately makes his case for monarchy, aristocracy, private property, the order of succession, and wisdom. A founding philosophical work of the conservative movement, Reflections was a favorite of Britain’s King George III.

Observations on the Reflections of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke, on the Revolution in France

Observations on the Reflections of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke, on the Revolution in France PDF Author: Catharine Macaulay
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : France
Languages : en
Pages : 94

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Book Description


Reflections on the Revolution in France

Reflections on the Revolution in France PDF Author: Riley Quinn
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1351352792
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 102

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Book Description
Edmund Burke’s 1791 Reflections on the Revolution in France is a strong example of how the thinking skills of analysis and reasoning can support even the most rhetorical of arguments. Often cited as the foundational work of modern conservative political thought, Burke’s Reflections is a sustained argument against the French Revolution. Though Burke is in many ways not interested in rational close analysis of the arguments in favour of the revolution, he points out a crucial flaw in revolutionary thought, upon which he builds his argument. For Burke, that flaw was the sheer threat that revolution poses to life, property and society. Sceptical about the utopian urge to utterly reconstruct society in line with rational principles, Burke argued strongly for conservative progress: a continual slow refinement of government and political theory, which could move forward without completely overturning the old structures of state and society. Old state institutions, he reasoned, might not be perfect, but they work well enough to keep things ticking along. Any change made to improve them, therefore, should be slow, not revolutionary. While Burke’s arguments are deliberately not reasoned in the ‘rational’ style of those who supported the revolution, they show persuasive reasoning at its very best.

Reflections on the Revolution in France

Reflections on the Revolution in France PDF Author: Edmund Burke
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781727865240
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 50

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Book Description
Edmund Burke's "Reflections on the Revolution in France" is considered by many to be a masterpiece of political analysis and a compelling rationale against the French Revolution. Originally written as a letter in response to a young Parisian and later expanded upon and published in book format in January 1790, the work has greatly influenced conservative and classic liberal intellectuals and stands as a powerful argument against violent revolutions, lawlessness, and unrest. Prior to 1790, Burke was a well-known member of the British House of Commons and a vocal supporter of the American Revolution. His condemnation of the French Revolution shocked many of his peers and supporters. Burke viewed the French Revolution as a violent and chaotic war without any guiding ideology or respect for the rule of law and feared it would lead to a situation that was both dangerous and corrupt. Many of Burke's predictions came true as the Revolution devolved into bloodshed and anarchy with the Reign of Terror beginning in 1793 and then leading to the eventual military dictatorship of Napoleon Bonaparte. Burke's work stands as an enduring statement in support of tradition, hereditary power, property rights, duty, and the monarchy.

Reflections on the Revolution in France

Reflections on the Revolution in France PDF Author: Edmund Burke
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108061281
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 367

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Book Description
Reissued here is one of the most influential works of Western political thought and rhetoric, first published in 1790.

The Rights of Man

The Rights of Man PDF Author: Thomas Paine
Publisher: Standard Ebooks
ISBN:
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 200

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Book Description
Thomas Paine wrote the first part of The Rights of Man in 1791 as a response to the furious attack on the French Revolution by the British parliamentarian Edmund Burke in his pamphlet Reflections on the Revolution in France, published the previous year. Paine carefully dissects and counters Burke’s arguments and provides a more accurate description of the events surrounding the revolution of 1789. He then reproduces and comments on the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizens” promulgated by the National Assembly of France. The manuscript of The Rights of Man was placed with the publisher Joseph Johnson, but that publisher was threatened with legal action by the British Government. Paine then gave the work to another publisher, J. S. Jordan, and on the advice of William Blake, Paine went to France to be out of the way of possible arrest in Britain. The Rights of Man was published in March 1791, and was an immediate success with the British public, selling nearly a million copies. A second part of the book, subtitled “Combining Principle and Practice,” was published in February 1792. It puts forward practical proposals for the establishment of republican government in countries like Britain. The Rights of Man had a major impact, leading to the establishment of a number of reform societies. After the publication of the second part of the book, Paine and his publisher were charged with seditious libel, and Paine was eventually forced to leave Britain and flee to France. Today The Rights of Man is considered a classic of political writing and philosophy. This book is part of the Standard Ebooks project, which produces free public domain ebooks.

Commerce and Manners in Edmund Burke's Political Economy

Commerce and Manners in Edmund Burke's Political Economy PDF Author: Gregory M. Collins
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108489400
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 581

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Book Description
This book explores Edmund Burke's economic thought through his understanding of commerce in wider social, imperial, and ethical contexts.

The Great Debate

The Great Debate PDF Author: Yuval Levin
Publisher: Basic Books
ISBN: 0465040942
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 298

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Book Description
An acclaimed portrait of Edmund Burke, Thomas Paine, and the origins of modern conservatism and liberalism In The Great Debate, Yuval Levin explores the roots of the left/right political divide in America by examining the views of the men who best represented each side at its origin: Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine. Striving to forge a new political path in the tumultuous age of the American and French revolutions, these two ideological titans sparred over moral and philosophical questions about the nature of political life and the best approach to social change: radical and swift, or gradual and incremental. The division they articulated continues to shape our political life today. Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the basis of our political order and Washington's acrimonious rifts today, The Great Debate offers a profound examination of what conservatism, progressivism, and the debate between them truly amount to.