De_La_Démocratie_En_Amèrique_Volume_Ii_Part_1 

De la Démocratie en Amèrique Volume II part 1 : American people have a very different philosophical approach than us, Europeans. Most of them rely on their individual judgement and ideas when it comes to « taking a decision ». As a comparison, we’d say that Europeans relate on laws, culture and given rights when about to decide something. Americans believe in their own choices, and do not want it to be dictate by authorities, but a decision should be the result of human intelligence. French are more Cartesian than American, in their own way of thinking. One of the two reasons is religion. American people are very attached to their religious beliefs, not even laws or politics could affect their belief. Moreover, France also knew its « revolution francaise » and saw its laws and authority completely questioned. America never faced this kind of social animosity to upset it traditional ideas. Any individual needs something to refer to. Dogmatic beliefs are common ideas that any individual rely on on a daily basis, without which he would be able to prove nor understand many aspects of his daily life. Anyone who refused to accept anything before proving it to himself will never be firmly convinced of anything. Therefore, authority also plays a part in our individual moral life. Because the United States is well know for its true values such as equality and liberty, people tend to believe in public opinions. As a consequent, equality can induce men to think innovatively or or lead him to stop thinking completely and rely on the willing of public opinions. In aristocratic societies, the lack of equality between people have led them think through generalizations about humanity. Generalizing is something that appeared because there is little time to think, and some of us do not want to make the effort, by generalizing one save the hastle of analysing over and over again. Beacause americans have more experience in political affairs than French, their encouraged each of their citizens to give a a hand in government issues so that they could face particular cases rather than general political theories. Americans are very close to their religious beliefs and think that religion will answer to the necessary questions of life. And even if the religion isn’t true, it contributes to each man’s dignity and happiness. The states prepares through religion, each of its people to hand over their freedom in search of some part of stability.