Jean-Jacques Rousseau And Alexis De Tocqueville

Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Alexis de Tocqueville share a deep preoccupation of the relationship between equality and liberty. The two thinkers build up a keen explanation of two self-centered feelings rather different in their respective origins, but which both have a negative consequence on civil societies. Alexis de Tocqueville defines individualism as « a mature and calm feeling, which disposes each member of the community to sever himself from the mass of his fellows and to draw apart with his family and his friends, so that after he has thus formed a little circle of his own, he willingly leaves society at large to itself » (p176, Democracy in America, A.Tocqueville). On the other hand, Rousseau explains that the first signs of « amour

Rousseau explains that under the state of nature, individuals were happy and free as only two principles guided them: a natural self-love, in the sense of « amour de soi » that pushed for their self-conservation and a compassion for their fellow human-beings. The latter is moral and natural. It produces humanity and is considered as the true source of honor and virtue. While departing this state of nature because of the need for a social contract and laws, another feeling called « amour propre » appears. Moreover, Rousseau explains that this feeling may appear through leisure : « The one who sang or danced best; the handsomest, the strongest, the most skillful, or the most eloquent came to be the most highly regarded, and this was the first step towards inequality and vice: from these first preferences arose vanity and contempt on the one hand, shame and envy on the other; and the fermentation caused by these new leavens eventually produced compounds fatal to happiness and innocence. » (p.166, Second Discourse, Part II, JJ.Rousseau). In this illustration, Rousseau underlines the idea that « amour-propre » implies comparison with others and rises because of a derivation from genuine leisure to the need for being seen. This feeling is indeed opposed to « amour de soi » as it is born in a context of community and pushes the individual to do more of hisself than anybody else. «

Indeed, the two feelings result from a comparison process of man to others, which is both a source and a consequence of equality. Therefore, we can assess that these feelings threaten social harmony as they have as consequences to suppress liberty and restrain the general will. However, both Rousseau and Tocqueville highlight the importance of civil associations to thwart these harmful