Thomas Paine

We discussed the role of anonymity for Benjamin Franklin, particularly as it related to his age in the Silence Dogood essays. We did not address at length, though, the impulse of anonymity as it relates to reason and emotion. As you read Paine’s “Common Sense,” ask yourself (and respond on this blog to) the following questions: For Paine, are reason and emotion the same? What does he appeal to most in the text? And perhaps most interestingly, how does his anonymity relate to issues of reason and emotion? The blog is due Thursday, March 9 by 7:00 p.m.