Author: Kevin Butterfield
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 022629708X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 320
Book Description
Alexis de Tocqueville famously said that Americans were "forever forming associations" and saw in this evidence of a new democratic sociability--though that seemed to be at odds with the distinctively American drive for individuality. Yet Kevin Butterfield sees these phenomena as tightly related: in joining groups, early Americans recognized not only the rights and responsibilities of citizenship but the efficacy of the law. A group, Butterfield says, isn't merely the people who join it; it's the mechanisms and conventions that allow it to function and, where necessary, to regulate itself and its members. Tocqueville, then, was wrong to see associations as the training grounds of democracy, where people learned to honor one another's voices and perspectives--rather, they were the training grounds for increasingly formal and legalistic relations among people. They were where Americans learned to treat one another impersonally.
The Making of Tocqueville's Democracy in America
Author: James T. Schleifer
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780865972049
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 411
Book Description
It is impossible fully to understand the American experience apart from Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America. Moreover, it is impossible fully to appreciate Tocqueville by assuming that he brought to his visitation to America, or to the writing of his great work, a fixed philosophical doctrine. James T. Schleifer documents where, when, and under what influences Tocqueville wrote different sections of his work. In doing so, Schleifer discloses the mental processes through which Tocqueville passed in reflecting on his experiences in America and transforming these reflections into the most original and revealing book ever written about Americans. For the first time the evolution of a number of Tocqueville's central themes--democracy, individualism, centralization, despotism--emerges into clear relief. As Russell B. Nye has observed, "Schleifer's study is a model of intellectual history, an account of the intertwining of a man, a set of ideas, and the final product, a book." The Liberty Fund second edition includes a new preface by the author and an epilogue, "The Problem of the Two Democracies." James T. Schleifer is Professor of History and Director of the Gill Library at the College of New Rochelle
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780865972049
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 411
Book Description
It is impossible fully to understand the American experience apart from Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America. Moreover, it is impossible fully to appreciate Tocqueville by assuming that he brought to his visitation to America, or to the writing of his great work, a fixed philosophical doctrine. James T. Schleifer documents where, when, and under what influences Tocqueville wrote different sections of his work. In doing so, Schleifer discloses the mental processes through which Tocqueville passed in reflecting on his experiences in America and transforming these reflections into the most original and revealing book ever written about Americans. For the first time the evolution of a number of Tocqueville's central themes--democracy, individualism, centralization, despotism--emerges into clear relief. As Russell B. Nye has observed, "Schleifer's study is a model of intellectual history, an account of the intertwining of a man, a set of ideas, and the final product, a book." The Liberty Fund second edition includes a new preface by the author and an epilogue, "The Problem of the Two Democracies." James T. Schleifer is Professor of History and Director of the Gill Library at the College of New Rochelle
The Making of Tocqueville's Democracy in America
Author: James T. Schleifer
Publisher: Chapel Hill : University of North Carolina Press
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 424
Book Description
It is impossible fully to understand the American experience apart from Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America." Moreover, it is impossible fully to appreciate Tocqueville by assuming that he brought to his visitation to America, or to the writing of his great work, a fixed philosophical doctrine. James T. Schleifer documents where, when, and under what influences Tocqueville wrote different sections of his work. In doing so, Schleifer discloses the mental processes through which Tocqueville passed in reflecting on his experiences in America and transforming these reflections into the most original and revealing book ever written about Americans. For the first time the evolution of a number of Tocqueville's central themes--democracy, individualism, centralization, despotism--emerges into clear relief. As Russell B. Nye has observed, "Schleifer's study is a model of intellectual history, an account of the intertwining of a man, a set of ideas, and the final product, a book." The Liberty Fund second edition includes a new preface by the author and an epilogue, "The Problem of the Two Democracies."
Publisher: Chapel Hill : University of North Carolina Press
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 424
Book Description
It is impossible fully to understand the American experience apart from Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America." Moreover, it is impossible fully to appreciate Tocqueville by assuming that he brought to his visitation to America, or to the writing of his great work, a fixed philosophical doctrine. James T. Schleifer documents where, when, and under what influences Tocqueville wrote different sections of his work. In doing so, Schleifer discloses the mental processes through which Tocqueville passed in reflecting on his experiences in America and transforming these reflections into the most original and revealing book ever written about Americans. For the first time the evolution of a number of Tocqueville's central themes--democracy, individualism, centralization, despotism--emerges into clear relief. As Russell B. Nye has observed, "Schleifer's study is a model of intellectual history, an account of the intertwining of a man, a set of ideas, and the final product, a book." The Liberty Fund second edition includes a new preface by the author and an epilogue, "The Problem of the Two Democracies."
The Chicago Companion to Tocqueville's Democracy in America
Author: James T. Schleifer
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 0226737055
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 213
Book Description
One of the greatest books ever to be written on the United States, Democracy in America continues to find new readers who marvel at the lasting insights Alexis de Tocqueville had into our nation and its political culture. The work is, however, as challenging as it is important; its arguments can be complex and subtle, and its sheer length can make it difficult for any reader, especially one coming to it for the first time, to grasp Tocqueville’s meaning. The Chicago Companion to Tocqueville’s “Democracy in America” is the first book written expressly to help general readers and students alike get the most out of this seminal work. Now James T. Schleifer, an expert on Tocqueville, has provided the background and information readers need in order to understand Tocqueville’s masterwork. In clear and engaging prose, Schleifer explains why Democracy in America is so important, how it came to be written, and how different generations of Americans have interpreted it since its publication. He also presents indispensable insight on who Tocqueville was, his trip to America, and what he meant by equality, democracy, and liberty. Drawing upon his intimate knowledge of Tocqueville’s papers and manuscripts, Schleifer reveals how Tocqueville’s ideas took shape and changed even in the course of writing the book. At the same time, Schleifer provides a detailed glossary of key terms and key passages, all accompanied by generous citations to the relevant pages in the University of Chicago Press Mansfield/Winthrop translation. TheChicago Companion will serve generations of readers as an essential guide to both the man and his work.
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 0226737055
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 213
Book Description
One of the greatest books ever to be written on the United States, Democracy in America continues to find new readers who marvel at the lasting insights Alexis de Tocqueville had into our nation and its political culture. The work is, however, as challenging as it is important; its arguments can be complex and subtle, and its sheer length can make it difficult for any reader, especially one coming to it for the first time, to grasp Tocqueville’s meaning. The Chicago Companion to Tocqueville’s “Democracy in America” is the first book written expressly to help general readers and students alike get the most out of this seminal work. Now James T. Schleifer, an expert on Tocqueville, has provided the background and information readers need in order to understand Tocqueville’s masterwork. In clear and engaging prose, Schleifer explains why Democracy in America is so important, how it came to be written, and how different generations of Americans have interpreted it since its publication. He also presents indispensable insight on who Tocqueville was, his trip to America, and what he meant by equality, democracy, and liberty. Drawing upon his intimate knowledge of Tocqueville’s papers and manuscripts, Schleifer reveals how Tocqueville’s ideas took shape and changed even in the course of writing the book. At the same time, Schleifer provides a detailed glossary of key terms and key passages, all accompanied by generous citations to the relevant pages in the University of Chicago Press Mansfield/Winthrop translation. TheChicago Companion will serve generations of readers as an essential guide to both the man and his work.
Tocqueville and His America
Author: Arthur Kaledin
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Electronic books
Languages : en
Pages : 440
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Electronic books
Languages : en
Pages : 440
Book Description
Democracy in America Volume—1
Author: Alexis de Tocqueville
Publisher: Namaskar Books
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 762
Book Description
Embark on an intellectual journey with Alexis de Tocqueville's insightful exploration, "Democracy in America, Volume 1." Uncover the intricacies of American society as Tocqueville examines the principles and practices that define democracy in the early 19th century. As Tocqueville's analysis unfolds, he reveals the profound effects of democracy on American life. But here’s the question that lingers: Can the strengths of American democracy coexist with its inherent challenges? Delve into Tocqueville's observations on individualism, social equality, and the balance of freedom and order. He scrutinizes how these elements shape the character of American citizens, offering a timeless reflection on the nature of democracy itself. How do these early insights resonate with the modern American experience? This edition provides a rich context for understanding Tocqueville's revolutionary ideas. His profound insights continue to challenge our perceptions of democracy, making this a crucial read for anyone interested in political philosophy and social theory. Are you prepared to confront the dilemmas and aspirations of a democratic society through the eyes of a keen observer in "Democracy in America, Volume 1"? Experience concise, engaging passages that illuminate the essence of American democracy. Tocqueville's sharp intellect invites readers to critically assess the ideals and realities of democratic governance. This is your opportunity to grasp the foundational ideas that continue to shape discussions on democracy today. Will you take the first step toward understanding the complexities of freedom and equality? Seize the moment to explore this essential work. Purchase "Democracy in America, Volume 1" now, and immerse yourself in Tocqueville's timeless analysis of democracy that remains relevant in our contemporary world.
Publisher: Namaskar Books
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 762
Book Description
Embark on an intellectual journey with Alexis de Tocqueville's insightful exploration, "Democracy in America, Volume 1." Uncover the intricacies of American society as Tocqueville examines the principles and practices that define democracy in the early 19th century. As Tocqueville's analysis unfolds, he reveals the profound effects of democracy on American life. But here’s the question that lingers: Can the strengths of American democracy coexist with its inherent challenges? Delve into Tocqueville's observations on individualism, social equality, and the balance of freedom and order. He scrutinizes how these elements shape the character of American citizens, offering a timeless reflection on the nature of democracy itself. How do these early insights resonate with the modern American experience? This edition provides a rich context for understanding Tocqueville's revolutionary ideas. His profound insights continue to challenge our perceptions of democracy, making this a crucial read for anyone interested in political philosophy and social theory. Are you prepared to confront the dilemmas and aspirations of a democratic society through the eyes of a keen observer in "Democracy in America, Volume 1"? Experience concise, engaging passages that illuminate the essence of American democracy. Tocqueville's sharp intellect invites readers to critically assess the ideals and realities of democratic governance. This is your opportunity to grasp the foundational ideas that continue to shape discussions on democracy today. Will you take the first step toward understanding the complexities of freedom and equality? Seize the moment to explore this essential work. Purchase "Democracy in America, Volume 1" now, and immerse yourself in Tocqueville's timeless analysis of democracy that remains relevant in our contemporary world.
Tocqueville and the Nature of Democracy
Author: Pierre Manent
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 9780847681167
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 172
Book Description
One of France's leading and most controversial political thinkers explores the central themes of Tocqueville's writings: the democratic revolution and the modern passion for equality. What becomes of people when they are overcome by this passion and how does it transform the contents of life? Pierre Manent's analysis concludes that the growth of state power and the homogenization of society are two primary consequences of equalizing conditions. The author shows the contemporary relevance of Tocqueville's teaching: to love democracy well, one must love it moderately. Manent examines the prophetic nature of Tocqueville's writings with breadth, clarity, and depth. His findings are both timely and highly relevant as people in Eastern Europe and around the world are grappling with the fragile, complicated, and frequently contradictory nature of democracy. This book is essential reading for students and scholars of political theory and political philosophy, as well as general readers interested in the nature of modern democracy.
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 9780847681167
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 172
Book Description
One of France's leading and most controversial political thinkers explores the central themes of Tocqueville's writings: the democratic revolution and the modern passion for equality. What becomes of people when they are overcome by this passion and how does it transform the contents of life? Pierre Manent's analysis concludes that the growth of state power and the homogenization of society are two primary consequences of equalizing conditions. The author shows the contemporary relevance of Tocqueville's teaching: to love democracy well, one must love it moderately. Manent examines the prophetic nature of Tocqueville's writings with breadth, clarity, and depth. His findings are both timely and highly relevant as people in Eastern Europe and around the world are grappling with the fragile, complicated, and frequently contradictory nature of democracy. This book is essential reading for students and scholars of political theory and political philosophy, as well as general readers interested in the nature of modern democracy.
Tocqueville's Discovery of America
Author: Leo Damrosch
Publisher: Macmillan + ORM
ISBN: 1429945737
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 303
Book Description
Alexis de Tocqueville is more quoted than read; commentators across the political spectrum invoke him as an oracle who defined America and its democracy for all times. But in fact his masterpiece, Democracy in America, was the product of a young man's open-minded experience of America at a time of rapid change. In Tocqueville's Discovery of America, the prizewinning biographer Leo Damrosch retraces Tocqueville's nine-month journey through the young nation in 1831–1832, illuminating how his enduring ideas were born of imaginative interchange with America and Americans, and painting a vivid picture of Jacksonian America. Damrosch shows that Tocqueville found much to admire in the dynamism of American society and in its egalitarian ideals. But he was offended by the ethos of grasping materialism and was convinced that the institution of slavery was bound to give rise to a tragic civil war. Drawing on documents and letters that have never before appeared in English, as well as on a wide range of scholarship, Tocqueville's Discovery of America brings the man, his ideas, and his world to startling life.
Publisher: Macmillan + ORM
ISBN: 1429945737
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 303
Book Description
Alexis de Tocqueville is more quoted than read; commentators across the political spectrum invoke him as an oracle who defined America and its democracy for all times. But in fact his masterpiece, Democracy in America, was the product of a young man's open-minded experience of America at a time of rapid change. In Tocqueville's Discovery of America, the prizewinning biographer Leo Damrosch retraces Tocqueville's nine-month journey through the young nation in 1831–1832, illuminating how his enduring ideas were born of imaginative interchange with America and Americans, and painting a vivid picture of Jacksonian America. Damrosch shows that Tocqueville found much to admire in the dynamism of American society and in its egalitarian ideals. But he was offended by the ethos of grasping materialism and was convinced that the institution of slavery was bound to give rise to a tragic civil war. Drawing on documents and letters that have never before appeared in English, as well as on a wide range of scholarship, Tocqueville's Discovery of America brings the man, his ideas, and his world to startling life.
Tocqueville between Two Worlds
Author: Sheldon S. Wolin
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 1400824796
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 697
Book Description
Alexis de Tocqueville may be the most influential political thinker in American history. He also led an unusually active and ambitious career in French politics. In this magisterial book, one of America's most important contemporary theorists draws on decades of research and thought to present the first work that fully connects Tocqueville's political and theoretical lives. In doing so, Sheldon Wolin presents sweeping new interpretations of Tocqueville's major works and of his place in intellectual history. As he traces the origins and impact of Tocqueville's ideas, Wolin also offers a profound commentary on the general trajectory of Western political life over the past two hundred years. Wolin proceeds by examining Tocqueville's key writings in light of his experiences in the troubled world of French politics. He portrays Democracy in America, for example, as a theory of discovery that emerged from Tocqueville's contrasting experiences of America and of France's constitutional monarchy. He shows us how Tocqueville used Recollections to reexamine his political commitments in light of the revolutions of 1848 and the threat of socialism. He portrays The Old Regime and the French Revolution as a work of theoretical history designed to throw light on the Bonapartist despotism he saw around him. Throughout, Wolin highlights the tensions between Tocqueville's ideas and his activities as a politician, arguing that--despite his limited political success--Tocqueville was ''perhaps the last influential theorist who can be said to have truly cared about political life.'' In the course of the book, Wolin also shows that Tocqueville struggled with many of the forces that constrain politics today, including the relentless advance of capitalism, of science and technology, and of state bureaucracy. He concludes that Tocqueville's insights and anxieties about the impotence of politics in a ''postaristocratic'' era speak directly to the challenges of our own ''postdemocratic'' age. A monumental new study of Tocqueville, this is also a rich and provocative work about the past, the present, and the future of democratic life in America and abroad.
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 1400824796
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 697
Book Description
Alexis de Tocqueville may be the most influential political thinker in American history. He also led an unusually active and ambitious career in French politics. In this magisterial book, one of America's most important contemporary theorists draws on decades of research and thought to present the first work that fully connects Tocqueville's political and theoretical lives. In doing so, Sheldon Wolin presents sweeping new interpretations of Tocqueville's major works and of his place in intellectual history. As he traces the origins and impact of Tocqueville's ideas, Wolin also offers a profound commentary on the general trajectory of Western political life over the past two hundred years. Wolin proceeds by examining Tocqueville's key writings in light of his experiences in the troubled world of French politics. He portrays Democracy in America, for example, as a theory of discovery that emerged from Tocqueville's contrasting experiences of America and of France's constitutional monarchy. He shows us how Tocqueville used Recollections to reexamine his political commitments in light of the revolutions of 1848 and the threat of socialism. He portrays The Old Regime and the French Revolution as a work of theoretical history designed to throw light on the Bonapartist despotism he saw around him. Throughout, Wolin highlights the tensions between Tocqueville's ideas and his activities as a politician, arguing that--despite his limited political success--Tocqueville was ''perhaps the last influential theorist who can be said to have truly cared about political life.'' In the course of the book, Wolin also shows that Tocqueville struggled with many of the forces that constrain politics today, including the relentless advance of capitalism, of science and technology, and of state bureaucracy. He concludes that Tocqueville's insights and anxieties about the impotence of politics in a ''postaristocratic'' era speak directly to the challenges of our own ''postdemocratic'' age. A monumental new study of Tocqueville, this is also a rich and provocative work about the past, the present, and the future of democratic life in America and abroad.
Tocqueville and the Frontiers of Democracy
Author: Richard Boyd
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107009634
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 391
Book Description
This collection of essays uses Alexis de Tocqueville's writings to explore the dilemmas of democratization in the twenty-first century.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107009634
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 391
Book Description
This collection of essays uses Alexis de Tocqueville's writings to explore the dilemmas of democratization in the twenty-first century.
Democracy in America (Volumes 1 and 2, Unabridged) [translated by Henry Reeve with an Introduction by John Bigelow]
Author: Alexis De Tocqueville
Publisher: Digireads.com
ISBN: 9781420954128
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 690
Book Description
In 1831, the then twenty-seven year old Alexis de Tocqueville, was sent with Gustave de Beaumont to America by the French Government to study and make a report on the American prison system. Over a period of nine months the two traveled all over America making notes not only on the prison systems but on all aspects of American society and government. From these notes Tocqueville wrote "Democracy in America," an exhaustive analysis of the successes and failures of the American form of government, a republican representative democracy. Tocqueville believed that over the past seven hundred years the social and economic conditions of humanity were progressively becoming more equal. The future was, in his opinion, inevitably drawing humanity towards the democratic ideal thus diminishing the power of the aristocracy. Tocqueville's predictions of the changing nature of human civilization seem almost clairvoyant in retrospect. First published in two volumes in 1835 and 1840, "Democracy in America" remains one of the most important historical documents of America and political analysis of its form of government. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper, includes both unabridged volumes as translated by Henry Reeve, and an introduction by John Bigelow.
Publisher: Digireads.com
ISBN: 9781420954128
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 690
Book Description
In 1831, the then twenty-seven year old Alexis de Tocqueville, was sent with Gustave de Beaumont to America by the French Government to study and make a report on the American prison system. Over a period of nine months the two traveled all over America making notes not only on the prison systems but on all aspects of American society and government. From these notes Tocqueville wrote "Democracy in America," an exhaustive analysis of the successes and failures of the American form of government, a republican representative democracy. Tocqueville believed that over the past seven hundred years the social and economic conditions of humanity were progressively becoming more equal. The future was, in his opinion, inevitably drawing humanity towards the democratic ideal thus diminishing the power of the aristocracy. Tocqueville's predictions of the changing nature of human civilization seem almost clairvoyant in retrospect. First published in two volumes in 1835 and 1840, "Democracy in America" remains one of the most important historical documents of America and political analysis of its form of government. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper, includes both unabridged volumes as translated by Henry Reeve, and an introduction by John Bigelow.