Tocqueville : the theorist of democratic modernity
The thesis is a study of the work of Alexis de Tocqueville written in the light of the current debate about the intellectual origins and ideological content of modernity. The central argument is that Tocqueville should be seen first and foremost as one of the most perceptive and original theorists of modernity. Tocqueville's work has been underestimated and minsunderstood. largely because the complexity of his theoretical project has not been given the credit it merits. To sustain these central claims two complimentary arguments are advanced. First. to understand fully the broadness and depth of Tocqueville's analysis of democratic modernity requires appreciation of the importance of one theoretical and one methodological break in his work. The former occurs when Tocqueville is preparing the second volume of Democracy in America. From this book onwards his agenda is radicalized moving beyond the aristocratic liberalism of the first volume. The methodological break is evident in the content of the Ancien Regime and the French Revolution. in which. despite a thematic continuity with the second volume of Democracy in America, Tocqueville presents a much more elaborate analysis of the emergence of democratic modernity
Malakos, Apostolos
Philosophy
Tocqueville : the theorist of democratic modernity. The thesis is a study of the work of Alexis de Tocqueville written in the light of the current debate about the intellectual origins and ideological content of modernity. The central argument is that Tocqueville should be seen first and foremost as one of the most perceptive and original theorists of modernity. Tocqueville's work has been underestimated and minsunderstood. largely because the complexity of his theoretical project has not been given the credit it merits. To sustain these central claims two complimentary arguments are advanced. First. to understand fully the broadness and depth of Tocqueville's analysis of democratic modernity requires appreciation of the importance of one theoretical and one methodological break in his work. The former occurs when Tocqueville is preparing the second volume of Democracy in America. From this book onwards his agenda is radicalized moving beyond the aristocratic liberalism of the first volume. The methodological break is evident in the content of the Ancien Regime and the French Revolution. in which. despite a thematic continuity with the second volume of Democracy in America, Tocqueville presents a much more elaborate analysis of the emergence of democratic modernity
theorist democratic modernity study work write light current debate intellectual origins ideological content modernity central_argument see first_foremost perceptive original theorist modernity work underestimate largely complexity theoretical project give credit merit sustain central_claim complimentary argument_advance first fully depth analysis democratic modernity require appreciation importance theoretical methodological break work former occurs prepare second_volume democracy america book onwards agenda move_beyond aristocratic liberalism first_volume methodological break evident content regime french_revolution which despite thematic continuity second_volume democracy america present much elaborate analysis emergence democratic modernity