Asked by john
How does Paine distinguish between society and government?
Society is natural; government is artificial.
Society represents unity; government represents division.
Society is wealth; government is power
Society is conflictual; government is peaceful.
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“Society is natural; government is artificial.”
Paine’s famous line in Common Sense: “Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness.” He argues society arises naturally from human needs and affections (a positive unity), while government is an artificial creation — a necessary but coercive institution set up to restrain vices. The other choices misstate his contrast (he doesn’t describe society as conflictual or government as wealth).
Paine’s famous line in Common Sense: “Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness.” He argues society arises naturally from human needs and affections (a positive unity), while government is an artificial creation — a necessary but coercive institution set up to restrain vices. The other choices misstate his contrast (he doesn’t describe society as conflictual or government as wealth).
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