Compare And Contrast Tocqueville And Putnam

From the ideas shared in the novel, it is evident that the writer defines his ideal society in the form of an antithesis of existing society. The author takes the initiative of informing the American population - using the novel’s romantic medium - on matters concerning individualism, which is notable in an argument by Andrew Carnegie who claims

Alexis de Tocqueville's visit to the United States in the early part of the nineteenth century prompted his work Democracy in America, in which he expressed the ability to make democracy work. Throughout his travels Tocqueville noted that private interest and personal gain motivated the actions of most Americans, which in turn cultivated a strong sense of individualism. Tocqueville believed that this individualism would soon "sap the virtue of public life" (395) and create a despotism of selfishness. This growth of despotism would be created by citizens becoming too individualistic, and therefore not bothering to fulfill their civic duties or exercise their freedom. Tocqueville feared that the political order of America would soon become

Alexis de Tocqueville and James Madison had two distinctly different philosophical views when it came to the problem of “majority tyranny.” In Tocqueville and the Tyranny of the Majority, Morton J. Horwitz discusses in length the writings of the Frenchman when he came to and became fascinated by America. Horowitz argues each man believes the public’s best interests and freedoms were being terrorized. The former (de Tocqueville) believed that society itself is a monster, but the latter (Madison) believed danger came from a temporarily impassioned majority making lasting decisions in government.

In chapter one, Wattenberg discusses the declining trends of Americans who regularly read newspapers between the 1960’s and present day. This can be attributed the aging patterns among generations who frequently read newspapers as well as with the use of technology rising. Reading the newspaper is a habit that either is or is not developed by the time one reaches voting age. With this, newspapers have become an older generation’s primary source of information, however, are still the best source for political matters. Younger generations tend to be more computer literate and have grown up with television and media more accessible to them than the previous generation. These trends not only reflect in American culture, but in other countries

I was actually aware of Tocqueville before this reading because one of my favorite quotes about America is attributed to him: “America is great because America is good; and if America ever ceases to be good, she will no longer be great.” What makes America “good” is her

Nations differ in language, faith, culture, traditions and views. Thus, each government created distinctly different and formulated to best govern its constituents. This causes nations to function in a variety of ways as well as have varying public opinion. The differences represented in America at the time Tocqueville visited and wrote his book were what shaped his opinion of the differences between the United States and other countries. The first major difference Tocqueville observed upon arriving in America is the role faith played amongst the inhabitants especially Christianity.

According to Tocqueville, the American social condition is eminently democratic, ultimately paving the way for the United States to become a society of equality. He interprets the topic of equality to be a negative element of democracy, as it has the tendency to deter individuals, who in a more aristocratic society, would become outstanding individuals, from reaching their highest potential. Although saddened by this fact, Tocqueville quickly notes that this is unfortunately inevitable. He introduces a new concept that arises from times of equality, individualism. Tocqueville defines individualism as, “a reflective and quiet sentiment that inclines each individual to distance himself from a crowd of peers and to draw apart with his own family and friends; in this way, he builds his own private world, willingly leaving the larger world to itself.” He warns of the dangers associated with individualism and how individualism can eventually merge into what he refers to as egoism. The autobiographies included in First Person Past emphasize the results of these individualistic motives through the lives of

Liberal notables were scarcely less hostile to Bonaparte’s promises of a social progamme. In , the future Napoleon III had written a pamphlet on The Extinction of Pauperism. Its argument was that it was necessary to turn the propertyless working class into proprietors and that through ‘association’ in the form of ‘agricultural colonies’, ‘poverty will no longer be seditious’. Tocqueville characterised his approach as ‘a sort of abstract adoration of the people’ unaccompanied by ‘any taste for liberty’.

In this era, the term “individualism” was first used. Unlike in the colonial period, many Americans now believed individuals should pursue their own self-interest, no matter what the cost to the public good, and that they should and could depend only on themselves. Americans more and more saw the realm of the private self as one in which other individuals and government should not

11, 1956). In regards to personal expression, Tocqueville thought that democracy took away from individuality. As the number of groups of people gaining equality increases, we have begun to take on more pride in that equality and sameness. Incidentally, we, as Americans, have begun to concentrate less on our individuality. “…every citizen, being assimilated to all the rest, is lost in the crowd, and nothing stands conspicuous but the great and imposing image of the people at large” (Hofner and others, p. 11, 1956). When examining this quote, one should look to the Native Americans as a prime example. White settlers strongly desired the Native’s land in order to fulfill Manifest Destiny. In order to acquire the land, Native Americans were forcibly made to live on reservations. They were made to operate like the majority at the time, white farmers. Settlers wanted the Indians to assimilate in this fashion; only when they assimilated could the Natives even consider to become American citizens. A myriad of native cultures was lost and many Indians became the spitting image of small white

Count Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859) was a part of the French government and held many positions as a magistrate and political observer. Most of his observations were done on political observations and writings workings of the United States. After some time, he became a reliable source for historical and contemporary aspects of American culture. In Origin of Anglo-Americans Tocqueville makes an excellent point,

Although liberty was explored in the Declaration of Independence and later in the Constitution, French politician and philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville best put into words why liberty is so important to the American people. He explained in his book, Democracy in America, that, “…defending [citizens'] rights against the encroachments of the government saves the common liberties of the country” (Galles). Tocqueville visited America in 1831 simply to study the nation’s prisons and consequently wrote Democracy in America after returning to France, in awe of the success of America’s democratic movement (“Alexis de Tocqueville”). He was

Postman (1987) claims that television is an evil that destroys the purpose and complexities of public discourse. He argues that important issues are oversimplified and drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Chaffee and Metzger (2001) confirm this assumption by remarking the evolution of print and radio into television and television into new media. Establishing the similarities between Postman’s chief complaints about the television medium and the new media then rearing its ugly head. Chaffee and Metzger indicate the shift in the denotations of mass, media, and communication. With technological advancements, it is impossible to ignore the new media and its impact on modern culture.

After the geographical location in context of America is explored, Tocqueville begins his exploration of the origins of Anglo-American people in society.

Neil Postman is deeply worried about what technology can do to a culture or, more importantly, what technology can undo in a culture.  In the case of television, Postman believes that, by happily surrendering ourselves to it, Americans are losing the ability to conduct and participate in meaningful, rational public discourse and public affairs.  Or, to put it another way, TV is undoing public discourse and, as the title of his book Amusing Ourselves to Death suggests, we are willing accomplices.