Liberty or Equality - Essay Example

The work of Tocqueville titled Democracy in America will be used to vividly identify exactly what his perspective is. Democracy in America is an important book for historians both in and outside the United States. On the other hand, no particular work of Jefferson will be used as many of his works are a 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 balance in his correspondence. This attempt, of course, reflects his opinion is on liberty.

As it may have been observed, both thinkers have made very valid points—points that are very difficult to counter. If it were the case 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 still junctures where they disagree. The disagreement is given vent to by the fact that one of the two concepts – liberty or equality – is a constituent of the other.

The argument is also urged on by the premises on which both men build their points. Drawing from their arguments, the existence of one – liberty or equality – will automatically 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 largely be useless. From the foregoing, it is very obvious that Tocqueville’s position on equality is superior to Jefferson’s 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 conditions is 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 found 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 open 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.

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