Liberty or Equality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Liberty or Equality - Essay ExampleThe work of Tocqueville titled Democracy in the States will be used to vividly identify exactly what his perspective is. Democracy in America is an important book for historians both in and exterior the United States. On the other hand, no particular work of Jefferson will be used as many of his works ar a divine revelation of what his position is as they are primarily concerned with issues on liberty. The papers of Thomas Jefferson are an attempt made by him to keep a counterpoise in his correspondence. This attempt, of course, reflects his opinion is on liberty. As it may cast off been observed, both thinkers have made very valid pointspoints that are very difficult to counter. If it were the incase that one of them backs negativity and the other backs positivity, it would have been much easier to choose between sides. However, even though the points made by both Jefferson and Tocqueville are positive, there are lock in junctures where they disagree. The disagreement is given vent to by the fact that one of the two concepts liberty or comparison is a constituent of the other. The argument is similarly urged on by the premises on which both men build their points. Drawing from their arguments, the existence of one liberty or comparability will automatic wholey lead to the existence of the other. If there is equality in a system, it will automatically bring forth liberty. In the same vein, if there is liberty in a system, it will bring forth equality. Reality however teaches further that liberty can only come into fruition in situation in which there is equality. Liberty, on the other hand, does not automatically lead to equality. That people have the liberty to do whatsoever they want does into mean that they will be treated as equals with others. In a situation in which there is liberty without equality, such liberty is automatically cut short because it will by and large be useless. From the foregoing, it is v ery obvious that Tocquevilles position on equality is superior to Jeffersons on liberty. Tocqueville (2000) says Equality leads men by a still more direct path... Right from the beginning of Democracy in America, it is very obvious that the stand that will be supported by the author is that equality wherever it exists is universal. De Tocqueville (2000) posits that the gradual development of the equality of conditionsis therefore a providential fact, and it possesses all the characteristics of a divine decree it is universal, it is durable, it constantly eludes all human interference, and all events as well as all men contribute to its progress. What he basically succeeds in doing is to compare the way equality can be ground in different countries using the Unites States as the reference point. By so doing, Tocqueville is able to show the ways each society has reveals how equality is in operation. De Tocqueville thinks that equality can only be attained in a situation in which all the prerogatives of birth and fortune are destroyed, when all professions are sacrifice to all, and when one can reach the summit of each of them by oneself, an immense and easy course seems to open before the ambition of men, and they willingly fancy that they have been called to great destinies (2010). However, most times, the same society that makes citizens dream of a bright future is often the one that ends up drawing them back. Tocqueville think