An Exploration of Individualism as Described by Alexis de Tocqueville in Democracy in America Essay

The immaculate work Democracy In the States by Alexis de Tocqueville has been the reason for erudite following as well as strife within that said(prenominal) community. Through a brief examination of this text, several of Tocquevilles argu handsts helped to delineate e nontextual matterhly concerny of the constructs that made America what it was as well as those that pack guide to what it has become to twenty-four hours. Of the many themes and ideas presented by Tocqueville, his thoughts on personal identity enamored the loudest chord with me.Tocqueville describes America as a society of joiners because of the fact that it is a rustic almost entirely composed of immigrants. This, in addition to the pursuit and promise of equality of conditions that Americas touted as an unofficial theme, brought citizens from many classes together in closer proximity and relation. Although this sounds like a good thing, Tocqueville argued that with this blending of favorable classes and increased opportunity people would isolate themselves, bond of human affections is blanket(a) and loosened (p. 483). As people gained wealthiness and left behind the free-and-easy struggle to survive many sought out education and as a result of this enlightenment developed the habit of always considering themselves in isolation (p. 484).This individualism is likened to selfishness by Tocqueville but he is bring offful to smudge out that he does non believe that it is the same thing. He does this by describing selfishness as a passionate and exaggerated love of self that causes man to relate everything to himself alone, and individualism as a reflective and peaceable scene that disposes each citizen to . . . withdraw to one side with his family and friends (p. 482). The way in which individualism caused people to separate from society with only their friends and family caused a problem, in that, by doing so a public conscience can not be established. Individualism jazzs to a slowdown of republican culture and the results in much(prenominal) fabric of time is torn at every moment and the imbibe of generations is effaced (p. 483). If people are not careful equality of conditions can, over time, delineate each man forget his ancestors . . . and threatens finally to confine him wholly in the solitude of his own heart (p. 484).Tocqueville goes on to say, all the passions that equality gives ingest to or favors, there is one . . . that it sets in the hearts of all men at the same time the love of well-being (p. 422). Unfortunately this genial of passion usually manifests itself as an uncontrollable desire to acquire wealth and material things. The judgement for material enjoyments, must be considered the first root system of this secret restiveness revealed in the actions of Americans and of the inconstancy of which they give daily examples (p. 512). Although this chassis of materialistic pursuit of wealth may appear to be professedly up freedom fo r some, Tocqueville argues that it is in fact the manifestation of the middle class Americans overwhelming fear of remainder. He who has confined his heart whole to the search for the goods of this world, Tocqueville observes, is always in a hurry. . . . In addition to the goods that he possesses, at each instant he imagines a thousand others that death will prevent him from enjoying if he does not hasten (p. 512). Equality of conditions awakens the national feeling of hope and happiness in all people, but undisciplined theses feelings can lead to an all consuming obsession with ones own mortality that ignites and hinders passion which leads to unceasing trepidation compelling a person to change his designs and his place at every moment (p. 512).Tocqueville because goes on to describe an America where the individualism describe above leads to a desire for materialistic wealth that disposes men to believe that all is nil but matter (p. 519). He talks about how this can lead to an American society that emphasizes development of the goods of the body (p. 521) and disregards the development of the mind and care of the soul. Tocqueville qualifies these statements by making the claim that there is no other country that is less occupied with philosophical system than the United States (p. 403). It is both pro represent and arouse that Tocqueville saw this happening in his time as it has certainly keep and grown since then. The epidemic of people, like the Kardashians, becoming celebrities for doing nothing perfectly illustrates what he describes as minds so disposed, every new method that leads to wealth by a shorter path . . . every discovery that facilitates pleasures and augments them seems to be the most kinglike effort of human intelligence (p. 436).These observations lead to another important signalise of Tocquevilles, the lack of mind and allowance for the profound, slow work (p. 435) of ones own mind. During his travels Tocqueville found few peopl e that would take the time to develop a true passion and desire for introspection and contemplation. It is because of this that America eventually gave birth to philosophy and the practice of pragmatism only serves to illustrate what Tocqueville described as Americas unparalleled energy toward coat (p. 437). This unparalleled energy is what led to the practice of planned obsolescence and why it is an ever increasing part of day to day life in America. With the rapid advancement of technology it is not unheard of for a computer or other device to be obsolete within weeks. Although the device was different, Tocqueville observed this phenomenon when speaking with a sailor, art of navigation makes such rapid progress daily that the most handsome ship would soon become almost useless if its existence were extended beyond a few years (p. 428). Rapid advancement, in addition to the populations desire for the latest and sterling(prenominal) forced craftsman to make many imperfect thing s very rapidly (p. 441) just to match demand. Even language in America changed and began to mirror this industrial taste(p. 435)With the ever increasing emphasis that was situated on progress and application it is not surprising that the purity of the arts were affected as well. Tocqueville described the way in which art and artists in America could not ply the desire to be relevant when he talked about how the work saturnine from depicting sentiments and ideas to emotions and sensations (p. 442). The embodiment of this, according to Tocqueville, is best illustrated by Americas obsession with theatre, which he regarded as most natural to democratic peoples (p. 467). He goes on to say Most of those who attend the acting on the deliver do not seek pleasures of the mind, but lively emotions of the heart. They do not expect to find a work of literature but a spectacle (p. 467 / 468). This is the direct consequence to and result of the practical, contested, and monotonous (p. 448) l ives that were created due to the emphasis that was placed on the materialistic growth we discussed earlier. Through television and film, this kind of spectacle, which Tocqueville criticized and ascribed to democratic societies, has reached a level of cultural relevance and depravity that he could ask never predicted.Tocqueville believed that a strong and flourishing democratic society could cultivate, in the spirit of its people, a consciousness of the delicate balance between the limited amount of material goods this world has to offer and the overwhelming affect of an reverend and almost fierce spiritualism (p. 510). Throughout the examination of Tocquevilles spoken communication it became clear that biggest threat to America is not foreign enemies or the government, the greatest threat to America are its citizens. Only through understanding and the abandonment of the selfish practice of individualism will America survive.