TOCQUEVILLE

Question 1

What is TOCQUEVILLE main thought?

Answer 1

CRITICIZING DEMOCRACY
Democracy isn’t perfect, so what could be wrong with it?
Tocqueville has a lot to say about the good and bad of democracy.

Question 2

What is the equality of conditions?

Answer 2

The disappearance of aristocracy

’among the new objects that attracted my attention during my stay in the US, none struck
my eye more vividly than the equality of conditions’. Equality of conditions is what
democracy is.

‘’the generative fact’’ → because of it: it causes anything in US. For instance:

• few but large monuments
• many cheap products, even counterfeits, for example, fake diamonds to decorate
  themselves with. Cheap stuff to store in their house. Democratic people buy cheap
  stuff.
• disappearance of dialects
• use of jargon
• spread of amusements
• bookstores full of mediocre works
• expressionism e.g. in poetry. Poets write about themselves and their own feelings.
• informality in (ad)dress. Kids calling parents by first names.
• importance of lawyers etc.
  All these things are caused by equality of conditions.
  Tocqueville described the disappearance of aristocracy is a time of 700 years.

Question 3

What are the two regimest Tocqueville talks about?

Answer 3

aristocracy and democracy

Question 4

Hwo does Tocqueville views Aristocracy?

Answer 4

as a strictly hierachical society

• emperor, king, royalty
• nobles, gentry (also a hierarchy here)
  + church, realms, orders, associatiations, families, universities, guilts, clubs etc.
• Free citizens, farmers. Have rights, protected by law, but in much lower part
  of hierarchy.
• Servants, personnel, sometimes even slaves (depend on country). Lowest
  ranking people.

Question 5

How does Tocqueville compares Democracy to aristocracy?

Answer 5

Negatively :

• State
  There is nothing (or very little) in between these two. At least, not politically relevant,
  because there are clubs, churches, universities.
• Left with all equal individuals.
  This is democratic society. All equal with same rights. No differences anymore, the only
  difference according to Tocqueville is money. Some people get very rich, some people very
  poor.
  Above these individuals there is one power: the state.

Question 6

What is the solution ?

Answer 6

s ‘’a new political science is needed for a world altogether
new.’’ We saw that Machiavelli tried to come with new political philosophy, Hobbes tried as
well, so does Tocqueville. Modern political society is a contempt to start political science
anew.