Democracy in America

In this volume Tocqueville concentrates particularly on the cultural and social consequences of democratic politics rather than the details and operation of the American political system. While Americans are not especially interested in formal philosophy, Tocqueville argues that all Americans believe in “the individual effort of his reason” (403), which he identifies closely with French Enlightenment philosopher Rene Descartes. Lacking a class identity to form their opinions from, Americans trust their own opinions. This leads to a kind of optimism and confidence, as “they easily conclude that everything in the world is explicable and that nothing exceeds the bounds of intelligence” (404). Looking at Europe’s intellectual history, Tocqueville finds it curious that Descartes and his followers did not immediately apply his conclusions to politics. Tocqueville argues that they eventually did, and this is why the first revolution to overthrow a monarchy occurred in France. Americans, in contrast, arrived at equality by bringing it from England.

Tocqueville argues that all societies function with some acceptance of fixed ideas that are largely unquestioned; he calls these “dogmatic beliefs” (407). As citizens become more democratic, they become more attached to the idea that their opinions should come from those like them.