Prof. Paul Eidelberg
I. Introduction:
A. Meaning of Democracy: First treatise on democracy: applicable to Israel as well as in America.
1. Not a political form of government, but Equality of Conditions. Can exist
under tyranny.
a. Absence of aristocracy—no class or hereditary distinctions.
b. No political privileges – hatred of privilege.
c. No clear superiority of individuals—no recognition or deference to
merit or human excellence. Equality of man and man.
2. Comprehensive: based on a single principle—equality of conditions.
B. Why Democracy is Inevitable?
1. Christianity: clergy open to all classes—rich and poor. Equality penetrates
into government of the Church (contrary to Torah). G-d becomes a democrat.
2. Science: no hierarchy in nature; Galileo brings heaven down to earth; ethically
neutral.
3. Commerce & Money the road to power—not hereditary privileges or
even Character.
4. The printing press and the Intellectual.
a. Every new idea placed within each of the people.
b. Uniformity of opinion.
c. Ascendancy of the intellectual—source of power; contempt for old forms.
d. Protestantism: all men are alike and able to find road to heaven.
e. Technology – uniformity of desires and feelings.
f. Rise of the Middle Class – money.
C. Democracy and Xtianity
1. Equality of conditions leads to equality of opinions, desires—materialism
contra Xtianity
Where was Xtianity strongest? Russia. Yet is was destroyed by Communism, the
most radical form of democracy or egalitarianism.
2. But also in capitalism America—Xtianity secularized. No more public
displays of Xmas!
D. Democracy and Science
1. Technology – satisfy increasing demands – materialism
2. Science replaces philosophy, i.e. love of wisdom
a. Wisdom—only for the few
b. Science put to the service of the masses
E. Democracy and Political Thought
1. Value-free social science overwhelmingly democratic
2. Based on equality of conditions—all lifestyles or value systems are
equal
3. No one questions equality—all peoples are equal: United Nations; Israel
vs. Arab despotisms
II. Influence of Democracy on Intellect and the Emotions
A. All generations are equal. Anti-traditional (Peres on history)
1. Doctrine of progress. Ceaseless change, innovation, fads, discontent,
identity crisis
2. Eliminate national prejudices (national anthem).
a. Realism, pragmatism
b. Eliminate forms, manners, morals – restraints
c. Obscenity, pornography
3. Individual the source of truth: Hence no truth—subjectivism, relativism
and egoism
4. No deference to authority; decline of master-apprenticeship relations
5. No real breakthroughs in theoretical physics since the 1930s; only in technology.
Science=tech
B. Two Tendencies of Equality
1. One leads mind to untried thoughts (experiments in living; gay marriages)
2. The other prevents you from thinking at all. “Political correct”
a. Public opinion—mass media—permeates thinking by an enormous
pressure on the mind, but of which one is seldom conscious.
b. Relativism leads to stultification of the mind. Re Glick’s experience
at TU
c. Decline of educational standards
C. Taste for General Ideas
1. Lust for simple explanations for complex problems: Reductionism
a. Freud, Marx, behaviorism
b. Labeling—left v. right (takes place of traditional distinction between
good and bad)
2, No time for thought, restlessness, ceaseless pursuit of pleasure
a. “territory for peace”; “conflict resolution”; self-determination
b. Blurring of distinctions: pornography=art; terrorist=freedom fighter
3. Language: “terrific,” “great,” “charisma”
4. Democratic social science—statistics study the Masses
D. Why Religion is Important in Democratic Times
1. Statesman has no basis for his beliefs, since individual can’t establish
one by himself (Sharon)
2. Unbounded freedom –also anxiety, look for escape in cults, drugs, or
a “master”
3. Materialism: those who condemn materialism don’t necessarily preach
religion.
4. Duties and rights—today only rights (really demands)
5. Religion—long-range as opposed to short term goals. Israel v. Arabs
a. Peace Now -- really desire for comfortable self-preservation.
b. Religion last obstacle to stifling uniformity of commercial, consumer society
E. Equality v. Freedom
1. Men prefer equality to freedom. Why?
a. Affects habits, manners, opinions – more so than freedom
b. Advantages which freedom brings are evident only after passage of time
Freedom exercised only at intervals—participation in public affairs
c. True, freedom fosters independence, enterprise, prevents tyranny (cite Glick)
d. And it is conducive to public spiritedness
e. But in democratic ages, freedom is oriented toward private interests—personal
freedom
2. Advantages of Equality are obvious: Education, the professions, shopping
malls, rights,
3. Evils equality may bring are remote
a. Welfare legislation – loss of incentive, people don’t work
b. Excessive dependency on government
c. Open enrolment in universities lowers standards
d. Equal voting rights to fools, even to the disloyal
F. Why revolutions are rare in democracy
1. Equality of conditions—equality of opinions – no deference
2. Preoccupation with immediate desires
3. Possible sources of revolution
a. Intellectuals—part of the establishment
b. Military
c. Workers
G. Conflict Between Democratic Equality and Judaism
1. One adult one vote
2. No recognition of intellectual and moral excellence
3. No respect for tradition
4. No reverence for God
H. America and Israel