| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 歷史學研究所 === 101 === In Thomas Paine’s (1737-1809) writings, it can be observed that he discourses on economic issues; however, he does not formulate an economic system independently of his conceptions of republican politics. The crux of his politics is that people are born equal in a civilized society, an inherent right that should be realized. Such idea is closely intertwined with his account of social formation and the gregarious nature of people. Technically speaking, Paine’s economic notions are those of political economy, which involve his perspectives on whether the government should intervene in the market economy to launch tax reforms, on the pros and cons of the banking system in a community, and how to resolve such economic issues as poverty in a civilization. An analysis of Paine’s discourse on economy can lead to a discovery of a trajectory of changes in his discourse on political economics along his political career path. Politically, that Paine is a radical republican is a consensus in the academic community, but divided opinions persist as for his analysis and delimitation of economic conceptions. In my thesis, three stages of Paine’s political career are foregrounded where his economic discourses carry corresponding significances. First of all, during the first half of The American Revolutionary War, Paine had a promising view on the colonial land, demographics, and commercial potentials, and thus espouses its independence, looking forward to the establishment of the North American Republic and striving to institute the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 in a conjunction with the radicals in the state. In the 1780s, Paine joined forces with the banker, Robert Morris(1734-1806), for the following causes: opposing the Congress; supporting a powerful central government that levies taxes on the states; penning a pamphlet that defends for the Bank of North America. In the 1790s, Paine committed himself to revolutionizing the society by advocating tax reforms by the government and welfare programs, in order to eradicate the inadequacies of the civilized society.
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