Individualism's Impact on Society: A Tocqueville Perspective

It was hoped that all citizens would be happy, with constructive possibilities opening up. The society was founded on individualism, where each person fought for their own happiness. This focus on personal interests and the pursuit of happiness was seen as a calculation of life. In America, individualism is a way of life consistent with the requirements of freedom and responsibility, as established during the American Revolution and its underlying religious beliefs.

Tocqueville believed that Europe would not achieve stability with its system. Individualism bears the worst effects when it completely dominates social life, posing the greatest danger: that individuals will not be interested in public life. The virtues of individualism include perseverance, responsibility, sacrifice, work ethic, pride, and independence. However, it lacks virtues such as passion for the state or interest in fellow citizens.

In America, people are disinterested in politics, leaving power exclusively to the government, which results in unchecked power. This can lead to despotic power, where good citizens can sleep soundly, and the government governs without political interference. Peace becomes the only virtue of the ideal citizen, while political impotence is ideal for those governed. This is the pole of despotism.

Public opinion is the only force that can adjust superior power. If this is reflected, then despotism is not limited to arbitrary rule but is perfectly aligned with law. Tocqueville based his critique of individualism on a broken spirit, defects, and a vice of the heart, viewing it as a flawed desire.

Tocqueville believed society had to move beyond individual selfishness and embrace more noble pleasures. The spirit of the people had to be open to ways of enjoying the highest freedom. The only solution was to target the right to be free, shaping individuals with a different idea of life. This would eliminate the division between private and public life, ultimately leading to a new democratic culture.