Aristocracy is a phenomenon that is perhaps as natural a summer crop, and as devastating as the locusts that eat it. De Tocqueville's position on aristocracy is quite clear. He is a strong advocate of the aristocracy, it is a part of the natural order and necessary. His position may have some basis, however I have yet to see the "upside" of a caste system or a good defense of it.

De Tocqueville believes that aristocracy provides stability and fellowship. De Tocqueville's support of aristocracy is weak and ill founded. His first point of aristocracy is that of stability, "Among aristocratic nations, as families remain for centuries in the same condition,". Stationary families have the stability to resist most circumstances and become fixed. This also allows families to gain power that they have no real right to hold. Old things often become stagnant and rotten, as did the aristocracy when families intermarried beyond their genes capacity, as well as becoming corrupted.

De Tocqueville's second point is that the aristocracy have great lineage and pay homage to their ancestors, "A man almost always knows his forefathers and respects them;". This is quite true, however De Toc

De Tocqueville wrote sensible arguments, save the fact that they were totally unfounded and not supported in any way. I cannot say whether it is better live under democracy or feudalism. It is possible to see that in most circumstances, a democracy is better for the people. In fact, it's better for any person to live under a democracy, except for the aristocrat.

Fortunately, for the advocate of democracy, De Tocqueville gave a fine defense for it. All his criticism are the very ideas upon which Democracy is based. De Tocqueville felt that Democracy brings about equality and breaks the social structure. Oddly enough, I must agree with him.

Equality is one of democracy's foundations. De Tocqueville does not see this, however as he writes, "As social conditions become more equal . . . [people cannot] . . . exercise any great influence over their fellows,". The idea behind this strange equality is that people are free to make decisions with out the fear of outside influences.

De Tocqueville continues to uphold feudalism by claiming again that it binds people together. His metaphor for the bond was his greatest error. De Tocqueville plainly says, "Aristocracy has made a chain of all members of the community, from the peasant to the king; democracy breaks that chain and severs every link of it.". This is precisely what democracy is meant to do. A democracy is meant to free people from such slavery and servitude. De Tocqueville chose poor words in this statement. It is a rare occasion when the image of chains brings a pleasant or light feeling. Chains are meant to bind and restrain. The are meant to dehumanize. This, as De Tocqueville says, is what the feudal system does. Aristocracy creates chains which bind those on the bottom, with the leads of the chains held by those at the top. Democracy was founded on the belief of liberty, and with this foundation we try to break the chain of slavery so people can live lives of their own.

De Tocqueville conc

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