Tocqueville's "Democratic Despotism" and Pope Benedict's "Dictatorship of Relativism"

Abstract

The thought of two thinkers, who can justly be regarded as philosophers, form the structure of this paper. Both perceive an uncomfortable affinity between democracy and what I will call for now “unlimited government” which is worth our while to consider, as citizens, as scholars and as Catholics. Tocqueville’s thought, though generally regarded as secular, nevertheless sometimes seems to reflect Catholic sensibilities, concerns, and themes. Benedict’s thought, of course, is generally regarded as reflecting Catholic orthodoxy. Both thinkers, though separated by 170 years, place important emphasis respectively on “despotism” and “dictatorship”, which they think democracy is at least open to, certainly endangered by, and perhaps destined for. One wonders what this commonality might signify; and whether it might shed light on on a phenomenon of some importance. The paper is divided into three parts. Part I develops Tocqueville’s thought about what he calls “democratic despotism”. Part II develops Pope Benedict’s thought about what he calls “the dictatorship of relativism.” Part III attempts to identify similarities and differences between these two diagnoses. The Conclusion speaks to specific questions the panel was asked to address but is not labeled Part IV to avoid compromising the paper’s trinitarian structure.