De Tocqueville Essay -- essays research papers

Alexis De Tocqueville, Democracy in AmericaAristocracy is a phenomenon that is perhaps as rude(a) a summer crop, and as scourge as the locusts that eat it. De Tocqueville&8217s position on aristocracy is kind of clear. He is a strong advocate of the aristocracy, it is a part of the natural order and necessary. His position may apply some basis, til now I have yet to moderate the &8220upside of a caste administration or a good defense of it.De Tocqueville believes that aristocracy provides stableness and fellowship. De Tocqueville&8217s sustain of aristocracy is weak and ill founded. His first point of aristocracy is that of stability, &8220Among low-spirited nations, as families remain for centuries in the same condition,. Stationary families have the stability to resist most circumstances and experience fixed. This also allows families to gain post that they have no real right to hold. Old things often become stagnant and rotten, as did the aristocracy when families inte rmarried beyond their genes capacity, as well as becoming corrupted. De Tocqueville&8217s second point is that the aristocracy have bulky lineage and pay homage to their ancestors, &8220A man almost perpetually knows his forefathers and respects them. This is quite true, however De Tocqueville does not mention that because of the family &8220blood, wars have been fought, and galore(postnominal) get goings lost. De Tocqueville continues to ordain, &8220He go awayingly imposes duties on himself towards the former and latter ancestors and descendants, and he will frequently sacrifice his personal gratifications . . .. It is a nice sentiment, however, history has taught us that it is rare to find a self-sacrificing person, and even rarer is the benevolent overlord. De Tocqueville&8217s argument lacks a solid and provable basis. The fact that aristocrats look scarce for their ancestors or descendants is a very self-centered act. They are come to with only their family and it&8217 s success. De Tocqueville does not mention the &8220sacrifice an angry lord makes for his serfs and servants by throwing them off his land. It would destroy De Tocqueville&8217s argument to show that lords were hard, if not unc emergeh at times, on their tenets. History has proven it. &nb... ...o people can live lives of their own. Equality is one of democracy&8217s foundations. De Tocqueville does not see this, however as he writes, &8220As social conditions become more tint . . . people cannot . . . exercise any great influence over their fellows,. The idea scum bag this strange equality is that people are free to make decisions with out the fear of outside influences. Democracy, though it works as a system designed for the masses, also works for individual rights. De Tocqueville notes that, &8220they are apt to conjecture that their whole destiny is in their own hands.. This is a foundation of democracy, that we have right to life. This includes the right to shape our &8220d estiny. De Tocqueville wrote sensible arguments, save the fact that they were totally unfounded and not supported in any way. I cannot say whether it is better live under democracy or feudalism. It is possible to see that in most circumstances, a democracy is better for the people. In fact, it&8217s better for any person to live under a democracy, excerpt for the aristocrat.