On Privilege—What is the Third Estate?

Author: Sieyès
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: The two essays included in this book are the representative works of Sieyès, a renowned French revolutionary lawyer and political thinker. What is the Third Estate? exposes the monopolistic and parasitic nature of the privileged class and the harm caused by privileges to the state and society. On Privilege focuses on answering three questions: What is the Third Estate? It is everything, the whole nation; What is the Third Estate's position in the political order? Nothing; What does the Third Estate demand? It demands to be something. This book played a significant role in promoting and mobilizing the French Revolution before it began.