De Tocqueville, “Democracy in America (excerpt)” PDF

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PSC 10001 with Professor Mitchell article summary...

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Of Individualism in Democratic Countries ● ● ●

Individualism is of democratic origin and it threatens to spread in the same ratio as the equality of conditions Aristocratic ages: men almost always attached to something placed out of their own sphere, often disposed to forget themselves Democratic ages: Duties of each individual to the race are much more clear. devoted service to any 1 man becomes more rare, the bond of human affection is extended, but is relaxed

The Americans combat the effects of individualism by free institutions ● Despotism: Never more secure of continuance than when it can keep men asunder; and all influence is commonly exerted for that purpose ● To be feared in democratic ages ● Freedom engenders private animosities, but despotism gives birth to general indifference ● Local freedom brings men together and forces them to help one another ● Ione effectual remedy: Political freedom Of the Use which the Americans make of public associations in civil life ● influences of men upon each other are almost null in democratic countries and therefore must be artificially created and this can only be accomplished by associations ● Several people in the US taken an opinion, they look out for mutual assistances and as soon as they find it, they combine ● If men are to remain civilized, the art of associating together must grow and improve in the same ratio in which the equality of conditions is increased...