Then and Now- a Look at our modern day freedom from work
- Christopher German
- May 14
- 2 min read
Welcome to our series, Self-Government and Consent of the Governed. In this second episode, "Then and Now," we dive deeper into the Common Sense, Common Good project.
Your host, Avery Mann—the "allegorical alias" for the common person—is joined by a legendary "Committee of Five" including Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, and Hannah Arendt. Together, they bridge the gap between the 18th century and today to explore what it truly means to be free.
In This Episode:
We examine the evolution of Independence and Freedom. While the American Revolutionaries fought for land ownership and self-sufficiency, they often labored from dawn until dusk just to survive.
Today, we enjoy unprecedented freedom from toil, along with the luxuries of modern choice, travel, and safety. But has this come at a cost? We explore the provocative idea that modernity gives us freedom by sacrificing our independence.
Key Topics Covered:
The Committee of Five: How Avery Mann, Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, and Hannah Arendt are collaborating across time.
Defining Independence: A look at land ownership and voting rights in the 1780s vs. the modern era.
The Trade-off: Comparing the "dawn-to-dark" labor of colonial life with the systemic dependencies of the 21st century.
Knowledge vs. Belief: How Franklin helps us navigate the philosophy of truth without "thinking too hard" like the lawyers do.
About the Series
Common Sense, Common Good is a project dedicated to revisiting the foundational principles of democracy. By using the perspectives of historical figures like Paine and Arendt, we aim to make complex political philosophy accessible to everyone.
Location: Filmed at Kiva’s Circle, Klamath Falls, OR.
Connect With Us
Subscribe to follow the full series.
Watch Episode One to see how Thomas Paine "assumed control" of the project and recruited Ben Franklin.
#SelfGovernment #ThomasPaine #AmericanHistory #Philosophy #CommonSense #FreedomVsIndependence #HannahArendt #benfranklin
Comments