17. Democracy, Conformity, and Human Greatness: Tocqueville vs. Nietzsche — The Tocqueville Fellows
What if the purpose of education isn’t knowledge—but the formation of character?
In this episode of Tocqueville Talks, Brent Nelsen and Beth L’Arrivée share a conversation recorded at the Tocqueville Fellows retreat, where students and faculty confront one of the most difficult questions in political philosophy: what does it mean to pursue greatness in a democratic age?
Drawing on Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville and the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche, the discussion explores a central tension in modern life. Tocqueville sees democracy as a system that promotes equality…
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