Alexis de Tocqueville - Democracy in America | Political Philosophy

French aristocrat, Alexis de Tocqueville, toured the United States in the mid 19th century and recorded his observations in his text Democracy in America (explained with summary).
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[@ShinobiNeon]

So much of what de Tocqueville said is shockingly relevant in today's American society. The man was so incredibly ahead of his time. lt's a shame his book went ignored for so long.

[@TheOtherCiphbruh]

It really feels like he predicts the future. Everything he warned us about is actually happening right now.

[@lifetakesflight]

Typically original thinkers are ignored for generations. The general public are lazy thinkers.

[@genege6301]

None of it is new. Philosophy have been positing for centuries dangers of democracy as mob rule and power of division in masses. Marxism focuses on socials class. Often it's religion or skin tone

[@KJ-vc3sw]

One of the most, if not THE most, profoundly insightful books I have ever read. It should be required reading for every American. Thank you, Professor.

[@TheMountainBeyondTheWoods]

He saw all this coming back in the 19th century, damn smart guy.

[@aceflashheart]

Not that smart, he should have understood that one thing (equality) predicated the other thing (conformity). Edit: also "Democracy, an irresistible force that spreads across the world", go tell that to Hong Kong lol.

[@TheMountainBeyondTheWoods]

@@aceflashheart "not that smart", "lol" Ok then.

[@aceflashheart]

@@TheMountainBeyondTheWoods If I am wrong, then tell me how.

[@dragonkong3352]

@@aceflashheart I think its more like “people will want democracy and it is irresistible for the people but otherwise for the ruling class (the chinese government). Obviously the chinese government does not want to give up their power so they will exert their military might over its subjects.

[@aceflashheart]

@@dragonkong3352 People don't naturally want democracy. They want peace, security and good government. Democracy *can* provide these things, but more often than not doesn't. As long as the CCP can keep the Chinese economy growing, and can generally rule well it will get away with anything it wants, including quashing pro-Democracy protesters in HK (and then probably rewriting history to make them out as being dangerous anarchists). The dysfunctional democratic west can do nothing to prevent this.

[@simonk.6349]

He was right in his predictions tbh

[@alexanderholcomb1010]

Thanks for this! I finished reading Democracy in America today, and this video was a great help in organizing the main points for reflection.

[@ahmedyounisrezeq4077]

I love you man

[@anavictoriawackerla3327]

Mr. James M: Good afternoon. Thank you so much for your lecture. Wonderful dissertation. God bless you.

[@ida7077]

Thanks for such a concise summary! I was having trouble linking his arguments in Vol. 1. This really helped!

[@anisah4u21]

You are a God send for creating this video!!

[@TheMastersaldivar]

I read both volumes, a masterpiece indeed.

[@tabitha0981]

He predicted exactly what Democracy is doing to America today, especially the tyranny of the majority part.

[@tilleternity]

Love from india. Helped me for my post graduate exams. You're lovely

[@nomoregoodlife1255]

my boy de Tocqueville saw it coming

[@anujamusale3371]

Hello! I'm Anuja from India and a regular follower of all your videos, and they're quite important in understanding political science! I've got a a video request Topic: John Rawls Theory of Justice Thank you:)

[@roussbogoss]

Hey. Great video, I'm trying to get my french highschool students to watch it. But fyi, in France we do not say "de" Tocqueville, just Tocqueville. We say "de" only if we mention the first name first. So Alexis de Tocqueville or Tocqueville. (We have so many names with a nobiliary particle that we just skip it) Anyway, nice video.

[@James_Muldoon]

cheers. I'm not sure where I picked that up from. Anglophones always have weird ways they try to pronounce French names!

[@uurca]

Brief and clear. Thank you.

[@ArtAndTechWithNicolas]

Great video thank you

[@hemantbafna6877]

He predicted worst things about democracy long before it was this bad.

[@johncoppolino1645]

its not that bad, except now with sleepy joe

[@Noitisnt-ns7mo]

I think he would have been surprised how long it took.

[@headbanglifer8322]

My man helping me pass my Poli-sci courses

[@clairezimmerman8885]

My essay and my grade thanks you

[@billmason2785]

Well done 👍

[@Korporaal1]

So, did de Toqueville predict political correctness and the stifling and moralistic socio-political monoculture that it entails?

[@nickdags4646]

Nah and he definitely didn't predict the Trumpanzee snowflakes like yourself

[@TheMastersaldivar]

@@nickdags4646 one word: boob

[@mack626]

Yes he definitely predicted identity politics. He predicted that the masses would be forced into different type of conformity, one where the weak could band together against the strong. He predicted a shift from individuals valuing competency to individuals valuing their ability to conform with the rest of the “weak majority”.

[@gabbar51ngh]

He predicted late stage democracy.

[@weicheng7215]

@@nickdags4646yeah he predicted your kind you c*nt

[@zahraayadi3554]

Good job

[@juanhinditamad8786]

I just wanna ask if it's true that Alexis de Tocqueville founded the Gamma Sigma Phi fraternity in the year 1848 in Great Britain.. I am a member of the said fraternity here in Philippines and according toul our Documents (history of the fraternity) Alexis de Tocqueville is our Founder.. Hope you will reply..

[@aleksandrachernysheva6338]

We need one on Jeremy Bentham

[@mihaelashumarska3698]

Thank you!

[@vidzorko4492]

Wonderful, and very well explained, you saved me before an exam, thanks!

[@TexasTiago86]

How’s that teleprompter, boss?

[@ProfessorPAPokemon]

12:27 he perfectly predicted how things are today.

[@gruntshit11b30]

Everyone needs to watch this and we should learn about him in 5th grade.

[@Noitisnt-ns7mo]

I wish they would have taught me how to do my taxes and traffic stop protocol while they were at it.

[@nomoregoodlife1255]

how was the trajectory of France altered once the top 0.x% were killed?

[@johncoppolino1645]

he really reading this off a prompter

[@alexrezel8860]

What's so bad about it? A little distracting though.

[@Noitisnt-ns7mo]

@@alexrezel8860 Because it lacks the rhythm and timing of original thought and sounds like droning.

[@karimology.]

Hello I am Karim from Algeria My grandparents suffered from French brute colonialism And his dirty policies in control He mentioned Alexis de Tocqueville Through his Algerian diaries And his criticism of the way French colonialism was treated And his preference for the English colonizer Because what we see today Reflects the image of French colonialism Because most of the French continuous In ignorance, poverty, backwardness and reaction As for the English colonies, the difference is clear Either way, colonialism is still roaming the world But in malicious ways of economic and political dependence The best example is Algeria يتنحاو قاع

[@iparipaitegianiparipaitegi4643]

Always whining, always complaining, like immature kids. France created Algeria. She left Algeria with a strong agriculture (in 1962 Algeria exported corn, meat, fruits), a road net, railroads, bridges, modern cities… now after 60 years of independance Algeria is a bankrupt country, careworn by corruption, inefficiency. Algeria imports all its food. No agriculture, no industry. Only oil. All the young people want to emigrate to France. Stop whining! Stop blaming France. Begin to work!

[@billmason2785]

Hope the authority isn't listening 🎧

[@scottaussem5028]

I took away from book Alex saw the republic system worked better than straight up democracy b/c in France the giant population in Paris could dominate what the country did, thus leaving people in countryside were at the mercy of Paris

[@isidoreaerys8745]

2:32 so am I’m the only one thinking “Wow that Bird has AMAZING hair” or do y’all have Apophenia too?

[@calengr1]

4:06 1789 rev continued a 100 yo process

[@raspberrypi2430]

Who else is living in the Democratic Pantheistic Society Alexis de Tocqueville predicted? Hi from 2021!

[@walterivy854]

Alexis Charles Henri Clérel, comte de Tocqueville

[@gabbagabbahey4928]

Didn't the Greeks think the same about democracy?

[@josinedekker6873]

Doesn't this guy ever breathe? Great video though

[@dustinwatkins7843]

"Mmmmm... computer says 'no'"

[@bobbyokeefe4285]

Americans in 2023:What happened to our democracy? de Tocqueville in the 1830's:What will happen under US democracy.

[@McCarthy1776]

Tocqueville, Montesquieu and Lafayette are interesting figures. All Enlightenment guys and all French but didn't conform to the FRENCH ENLIGHTENMENT but rather more so with the Anglo-American Enlightenment (English and American).

[@amaerukaoru]

I love America, because many countries just regard democracy and freedom as a tool, instead of a goal or belief. And those country can fall into dictatorship or Communism just for so-called "development"😅

[@gabrielfriedel4754]

he was a prophet

[@ilirllukaci5345]

Conservatism vs Populism 101.

[@cefalopodo5717]

what is the guy looking at lol

[@Noitisnt-ns7mo]

Alexis thought that rule by aristocracy was much superior to democracy, which he saw as a big problem, and his points are well taken as illustrated in the misfortunes of today's America. I got a tone of contempt for America from his book, not admiration. Democracy is a completely unreasonable form of government, it's only saving grace is that it can't get out of it's own way, on the other hand a republic is very doable and something that Thomas Jefferson wanted for us to have, which Lincoln began to destroy, using the pretense of freeing the Black man, that they had no intention of ever doing ( they wanted insurgents and soldiers) and Reagan put the finishing touches on, with his union breaking and creation of the neoconservatives (Wolfiwitz, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Bush's- 9/11, Iraq, Ukraine "Military Industrial/Government Complex"). //"Lawr,sawr, Americker" , driving on the wrong side of the road ,Oh you Brits, you.

[@NathanInnes]

Love your video but you talk way too fast!

[@madladiesscientists6894]

You can slow it down....

[@badgerresistance4322]

Don't let Bernie sheep see this video

[@carlawilliams6794]

Oan please talk slower