Analysis : Social and Intellectual Effects of Democracies

“It belongs to the imperfection of everything human that man can only attain his desire by passing through its opposite.”

— Soren Kierkegaard

Centuries ago, people were influenced by word-by-mouths. Centuries later, people are influenced by technology. In today’s society, technology and social media is how humans receive news and information that helps humans formulate opinions and make decisions. It is an ongoing tug-of-war situation. Humans have developed a new standard of comfort. We deem some traditions and customs of not being socially compliant especially in our decision making in regard to politics. In many democracies, political parties are guided by ideologies and beliefs they view as socially acceptable. Democracy protects what has been deemed acceptable as it focuses on the advancement of humanity. John Stuart Mill and Alexis de Tocqueville had their own observations about social and intellectual effects caused by democracy. In understanding “Why” we must first discover the “How” inorder to determine the facts in solving this issue.

Alexis de Tocqueville was a minor French aristocrat, who wrote, “Democracy in America” while observing American local politics (Kersey 2024). “People can therefore draw two great political consequences from the same social state; these consequences differ prodigiously, but they both arise from the same fact (Tocqueville 1835).” He observed four issues within American society. The first issue was equality (Kersey 2024). He made note that within American democracy, there was no history of aristocracy and no barriers when it came to the economy (Kersey 2024). America had no lingering British influence and anyone could make money and/or lose money. The second issue was equality having too many risks (Kersey 2024). Citizens in America had no desire to have others be more progressive than them. The idea of someone else moving forward in life was not entertained. The third issue was that American society did not emphasize the importance of education to help citizens progress (Kersey 2024). Some citizens were scholars and inventors (Kersey 2024), while the majority of citizens were common low-literate citizens. The fourth issue he observed was individualism. Individualism was a serious issue within American society (Kersey 2024). Everyone was worried about their personal lives and had no time to worry about others. Democracy gave citizens so much freedom that no-one cared about anyone else and what they had going on. “You cannot doubt that in the United States the instruction of the people serves powerfully to maintain the democratic republic (Tocqueville 1835).” Tocqueville came to a conclusion/solution that in order to fix these issues citizens had to localize participation if they wanted change (Kersey 2024).

John Stuart Mill was an English philosopher, who wrote, “Oh Liberty”. His main issue with democracy was that liberalism created mediocrity and conformity of thought (Kersey 2024). He observed that social practices were built on the foundation of utility and not tradition (Kersey 2024). Citizens should be able to express themselves without being reserved (Mill 1859) by traditional laws/rules. High statute laws cannot limit citizens’ freedom, happiness, and growth (Kersey 2024) to follow old traditions. “No one pretends that actions should be as free as opinions. On the contrary, even opinions lose their immunity, when the circumstances in which they are ex-pressed are such as to constitute their expression a positive instigation to some mischievous act (Mill 1859).” The only time democracy can limit is to prevent harm. Mill developed the harm principle. The principle gave governments the guiding right to limit citizens’ freedom if it causes harm to others (Kersey 2024). Democracy provided too much freedom so regulations must be put in place to maintain social order and prevent full control of citizen liberties.

In modern-day America, our democracy leans towards social conformity and intellectual mediocrity to please the majority. American political parties pride themselves on topics and issues they know citizens feel strongly about. If the majority of citizens feel strongly about a certain topic or issue that is causing problems, political parties study and emphasize that concern. Democratic societies tend to feel safe and secure within themselves. They put in place safeguards even when something is socially unacceptable and intellectual wrong. In order to fix it, democratic societies would have to provide more resources in education and knowledge based programs. At one time education was not valued. In modern times, education is encouraged but needs more support and resources. With knowledge, democratic societies can have tough socially acceptable and unacceptable conversations without mediocrity. 

De Tocqueville, Alexis.  Democracy in America, 1835.

Mill, John Stuart. “Chapter 3 - On Individuality As One of the Elements of Wellbeing.” In On Liberty, 1859.

Kersey, Tim. “Issues in Contemporary Democracies - Democracy and Civic Values.” PowerPoint Lecture Presentation, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, January 14, 2024.

Kersey, Tim.“Liberalism and Social Freedom - Social Liberalism.” PowerPoint Lecture Presentation, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, January 27, 2024.

SUCH being the reasons which make it imperative that human beings should be free to form opinions, and to express their opinions without reserve. (JSM Pg. 52)