Discussion Starter: Tocqueville, the Danger of Individualism, and the Need for Education

For Tocqueville, Democracy in America was a study of a stable democracy in the hopes of gaining insight as to how it functioned and how it fit into the larger trajectory of history. Through his study of democracy, Tocqueville came to believe that democracy and equality of conditions are the inevitable, universal ends which history moves towards. As such, the purpose of his analysis is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of this inevitable trend so that governments could strive to reinforce and address such issues.

Although many Americans, especially today, view individualism as a defining and positive characteristic of the United States, Tocqueville saw it as perhaps the largest threat to functioning society/democracy. He describes individualism as “a calm and considered feeling which disposes each citizen to isolate himself from the mass of his fellows and withdraw into the circle of family and friends; with this little society formed to his taste, he gladly leaves the greater society to look after itself” (506). For Tocqueville, individualism—a product of equality—signifies a move towards extreme self-interest and a withdrawal from participation in and concern for larger society.

He argued that such individualism was the result of obliterating the aristocracy and the dependencies such a social structure necessitated, which continually reinforced individuals’ awareness of their place and function in society as well as their awareness of others. In this manner, promoting equality via a deconstruction of the old social order opened the door for individualism to permeate society and create disinterest and detachment from participation in larger society/democracy. It erodes a sense of nationalism or social involvement and responsibility.

Essentially, such individualism undermines the tenants and nature of democracy and participatory government. As Tocqueville puts it, “unenlightened self-interest” is tantamount to selfishness which encourages individuals to seek personal advantage at the expense of others. Unenlightened self-interest begot from equality and individualism encourages materialism and allows for a disconnect and lack of concern for others. Rather, self-interest proper, as Tocqueville claims, should seek “individual advantage to work for the good of all” (525).

However, he says such attention to one’s role in society and to others is not a natural instinct, but rather a learned behavior. As such he argues that education is important to teach individuals to connect their own pursuit of self-advancement to the advancement of others/society.