Final Answer:
Paine expected his readers to respond to his tract with a sense of urgency and passion, rather than a logical and rational approach. He believed that the public’s emotions and beliefs should come before any rational consideration of the issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the statement “The mind of a living public . . . feels first and reasons afterwards,” Paine emphasizes the importance of emotions in shaping public opinion. He suggests that people are more likely to be swayed by their emotions than by rational arguments. This approach is evident in the tone of his tract, which is passionate and persuasive, rather than detached and objective.
Paine’s use of rhetorical devices, such as repetition and hyperbole, further reinforces his emphasis on emotion over reason. For example, his repeated use of the phrase “the mind of a living public” emphasizes the idea that the public is a living, breathing entity that feels and reacts to events, rather than a collection of individuals who can be persuaded through logical argument. Additionally, his use of hyperbole in statements such as “a sense of liberty, or the sense of slavery” underscores the importance of strong emotions in shaping public opinion.
Overall, Paine’s approach to persuasion is based on the idea that emotions are a more powerful motivator than reason. He expected his readers to respond to his tract with a sense of urgency and passion, rather than a logical and rational approach.