1 Flashcards
Aristocracy vs democracy
Aristocracy: can have power with only few individuals. Everyone pursued different passions and has different ideas. Not all conformist. Aristocracies have fixed positions
Democracy: must be large numbers to have any power. Everyone is pressured to conform to the same ideas. Democracy creates mediocrity of thought and sameness. Everyone pursued the same passions and everyone is focused on wealth and possessions and property which makes democracies scared of revolution (since revolution threatens property). Democracies have relaxed affection for mankind- meaning they care about others but don’t actually do much to help others. Democracies also have social mobility. Democracies based on equality
Rousseau civil vs. moral liberty
With moral liberty you become your own master and develop your own virtue. Moral liberty implies that people need to have obedience to self prescribed laws. Moral liberty is acting according to laws or rules one prescribes for themselves.
With civil liberty allows for exercise of general will, which aims at the common good or interest for everyone. Civil liberty also protects people’s property and possessions. Civil liberty is what is permitted by the laws of a political society.
One acquires moral liberty in civil society
We need both civil and moral liberty because society is greedy, corrupt, and vain, and society should not be this way
De Tocqueville on equality and liberty
Equality:
Tend to go along with democracies. Equality has an effect on society and government. Equality leads to sameness and mediocrity of thought. Equality pressures people to conform to the rest of society. It is hard for someone with a different opinion to speak up. You can’t have liberty without equality. We don’t know the consequences of too much equality (cause that’s not a thing). Equality leads to mediocrity and individualism.
Liberty:
Tend to go along with aristocracies. Can have equality without liberty. (Everyone could be equal but have no freedoms). Excess liberty is not desirable b/c Too much liberty can create problems in society (like with Laws) (if people can do whatever society could become dangerous).
