Teizm Tocqueville’a
Tocqueville’s theism

Author(s): Igor Czernecki
Subject(s): 16th Century, 17th Century, 18th Century
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Tocqueville; religion; civil religion; theism; deism; Pascal; Rousseau
Summary/Abstract: In this essay I attempt to address the tension between a functional and substantial takeon religion in the works of Alexis de Tocqueville. I will argue that its correct understandingrequires going beyond the dichotomy of either reading in Tocqueville abouta Montesquieu-inspired civil religion or seeing in the author’s works an expression ofyearning for God, reminiscent of Pascal, and that this can be accomplished with thehelp of the concept of theism. To this end I confront Pierre Manents idea of la religioncivilewith examples from Tocqueville’s work that this idea fails to account for. I proposea synthesis of the two perspectives with the help of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s theologicaltreaties.

• Details
• Contents