Abstract:

Tocqueville, although born of a noble family, rationally considered that an aristocratic society would decline and a democratic society would be coming, and that democracy was an important character of modern society. Accordingly, he made an analysis of characteristics, values and shortcomings of aristocratic liberty and the nature of democracy. He believed that in a democratic era it was impossible for liberty to be built on the basis of aristocracy, and meanwhile he was especially interested in how to avoid democratic despotism and how to avoid destroying liberty in the name of democracy. Hence, Tocqueville expected that the coming society was not only democratic but also liberal.In such a society the union of liberty and democracy would be achieved.

Key words: Tocqueville, aristocracy, democracy, liberty