Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T02:14:40.090Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Tocqueville's Democratic Man*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2014

Pierre Manent
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

THE MAN WHO LIVES IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, WHO MEETS and wishes to meet only his fellows and peers, does not allow himself to be influenced by others. He searches for his opinions within himself, but he finds them, or at least recognizes them, only if they are shared by his peers, if they are widely believed and are supported by the whole weight of society, His thoughts easily take an abstract cast, while his heart is freely open to pity. He is argumentative, compassionate and gentle. But being argumentative and compassionate does not fill his whole life. What does he do with his time? What principles govern his actions?

Type
Original Article
Information
Government and Opposition , Volume 17 , Issue 2 , 01 April 1982 , pp. 195 - 210
Copyright
Copyright © Government and Opposition Ltd 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Alexis. de Tocqueville De la Démocratie en Amérique Vol. I p. 105 Gallimard, Paris, 1961.

2 D. A., I, p. 193.

3 D. A. II, p. 134.

4 D. A., II, pp. 138–9.

5 D. A., II, p. 142.

6 D. A., II, p. 143.

7 ibid.

8 ibid.

9 D. A., I, p. 421.

10 ibid.

11 D. A., I, 421.

12 D. A., II, 270.

13 cf. Benjamin Constant, De l'esprit de conquěte et de l'usurpation.

14 D. A., II, p. 294.

15 ibid.

16 D. A., II, p. 284.

17 cf. for example D. A., II, 3rd part, chap. XVIII.

18 D. A., I, p. 331.

19 cf. in particular chapter XIII of the second part of vol. II entitled Pourquoi les Americains se montrent si inquiets au milieu de leur bienětre.

20 D. A., II, pp. 142–3.

21 D. A., II, p. 284.

22 D. A., II, p. 144.

23 D. A., II, p. 101.

24 D. A., II, p. 144.

25 D. A., II, p. 302.

26 D. A., II, p. 308.

27 D. A., II, p. 302.