Abstract
Tocqueville argues that the democratic revolution has created
different democratic societies each possessing different causes and
a host of opinions, sentiments, and instincts despite sharing the
same basic regimental architecture. The existence of this dichotomy
is one of the primary reasons why Tocqueville insisted on not
adopting a single model of democratic institutions and associations
because he saw regimes and social states as always having more than
one face and nature, "complete" and "revolutionary" with the
respective examples of America and France as the primary specimens.
But how can one regimental process produce such a variety of
resulting models? What exactly is it that Tocqueville attributes to
these diametrically striking sociopolitical differences, such that
he claims, "democracy exists in Europe but prospers only in the
United States? Is there a causational concept or variable that
defines and influences the development of such divergences? I argue
that Tocqueville saw a democratic social state as compatible with
several different types of civil and political character that are
ultimately determined by how the idea of equality is understood and
implemented in their midst.
Table of Contents
Introduction
I. Equality as the Fundamental Democratic More and Its Two
Variations
II. Two Democratic Origins and How History Influences The
Perception of Equality
III. The Defining Characteristics and Talents of The Two
Equalities
i.Equality in Complete Democracies and Its Dominance in the Private
Sphere
ii.Equality in Revolutionary Democracy and Its Dominance in the
Public Sphere
IV. Liberty and the Two Democracies
i.Equality in Revolutionary Democracies on the Misunderstanding of
Liberty's Purpose
ii.Equality in Complete Democracies on Undervaluing Liberty's
Potential
iii.Summation
V. Self-Interest and The Two Democracies
i.Equality in Complete Democracy Creating Dynamic Self-Interest and
Anxious Citizens
ii.Equality in Revolutionary Democracy Creating Stable
Self-Interest but Destructive
Egotism
iii.Summation
VI. Religion and the Two Democracies
i.Equality in Revolutionary Democracies and Its Influence on
Religion as an Institution
ii.Equality in Complete Democracies and Its Influence on Religion
as a Habit
iii.Summation
VII. Conclusion
About this Honors Thesis
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