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It certainly seems to me that Tocqueville has lost much of his lustre that he once enjoyed in previous years. Whether rightfully so or not, it appears to be part and parcel of the “dumbing down of America.” It seems that the great thinkers of the past have very little resonance in the America of today. It may be that they aren’t “digital” enough or “woke” enough or even “enlightened” enough and their mental gymnastics alone (along with their old-fashionedness) are tantamount to immediate dismissal whether germane to today’s philosophies or not.
Also, as I read this, I couldn’t help but feel that without sharing in the divine news of the Gospel, then this Alexis de Tocqueville and others like him, could not conceivably be expected to entertain the religious views of their understanding beyond what they only experienced and participated in. It is easy for us who have been “enlightened” to feel “superior” to those who using base intellect alone have made long and intricate compilations regarding their thesis of democracy, religion and the experiment of “America.”
This is a very nice reminder of a bygone philosophy and commentary on the foundations which religion and democracy share in the new world.
Excellent essay. Thank you Bro. Midgley.
This reminds me of the John Adams quote:
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
Cheers.
Excellent.