Abstract
This paper examines how the book, "Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville, considers the phenomenon of democracy as it manifests itself in the United States. It looks at how, apart from legislative authority, democracy carries with it certain dangers that, if not properly dealt with, will result in despotism by the majority.

Outline
The Love for Equality
Individualism
Materialism
The Preservation of Liberty in the Face of Democracy
Association and Press
Religion
De Tocqueville's Relevance

From the Paper
"The main premise for this argument include the sovereignty of the people and the power of public opinion. De Tocqueville sensibly argues that equality precludes the importance of any one person's rule over another, since nobody can claim to be more important than any other. However, to establish order in society, a certain rulership has to be established. The only way to achieve this is by the rulership of the majority, which then can lead to despotism. This happens by means of tyranny of the majority. Because everybody is seen as equal, no opinion is more important than any other. Thus, the opinion of the majority is in effect adhered to, in order to satisfy the majority. A further implication of equality is that the minority, being equal to the majority, has not right to disagree with the majority, as this implies that such an opinion is more important than that of the majority. This is the basis of despotism; that the minority is helpless to resist the general opinion, and thus liberty is undermined."

Tags:liberty, materialism, religion, individualism, equality

Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses the notion and emotion of happiness. Firstly, the writer presents a definition of happiness. The writer explains that happiness is a state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy or emotions experienced in a state of well being. The writer points out that happiness comes from within a person and can be seen in people who are satisfied with life. Further, the writer notes that happiness comes from finding answers to life and knowing that life is satisfying.

From the Paper
"What is happiness? How does a person determine whether he or she is happy? Often people confuse joy with happiness, but they are not the same. Joy is fleeting moments of happiness, while happiness is long lasting. A person winning a lottery is overwhelmed with joy, but it may not bring happiness. An elderly woman with five children and twenty grandchildren is happy because she knows she is loved. Happiness can be defined as an emotion similar to being sad, mad, angry, frustrated, joy, love, etc."

Tags:happiness, emotion, definition

Abstract
This paper looks closely at the elements of materialism and spirituality. It contends that materialism takes the more significant role in our daily lives. The paper firstly looks at the ideas of psychology, Marx and Nietzsche to prove that materialism is central to our human nature. The author explains that writings negative to materialism usually only deal with the excess of materialism, not materialism itself, to finally conclude that spiritually is important but not vital to existence.

From the Paper
"This estrangement between the two spheres of life, the relationship between materialism and spirituality, is as central a divide as one can imagine. From the remains of our earliest writings, these concepts have been illuminated for us by religious figures, philosophers, novelists, and literary critics, amongst many others. The two concepts, however, are often inextricably linked. In our daily lives, it is clear that materialism remains dominant, and it is vital to our survival as a species. Substance, then, is the true reality of the world, as it is used for the medium of explanation. Spiritualism, too, has been shown to play an important role in our lives as well, as faith has been illustrated as a guiding construct for people daily. The following will address the concepts of materialism and spirituality, analyzing the importance or vitality of acknowledging our material nature while allowing that spirituality too has a place ..."

Tags:materialism, spirituality, survival

Abstract
This paper examines happiness according to Gilbert's views in "Stumbling on Happiness".

From the Paper
"As a work of philosophy, Daniel Gilbert's Stumbling on Happiness is a remarkably self-aware piece. His repeated insistence that he is a scientist is tempered by clear admissions of the slippery nature of the subject matter he is pursuing and detailed admissions of the faults of the tools he has at his disposal. Such a mixed assessment from Gilbert lends both credence and question to what his message is. This paper will examine one of the penultimate claims in his book - that despite what society tells us, children may not make us happy - first trying and explain how he arrived at this claim, and then critiquing it. To do this, we will need to examine Gilbert's presentation of how we anticipate things to come, and in..."

Tags:happiness, stumbling, philosophy

Abstract
In this article, the writer presents a critique of the cross cultural psychology research on happiness. The focus is upon determining those findings within which the strongest confidence can be placed as well as a general picture of the overall quality of the cross cultural psychology research on happiness.

From the Paper
"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. While Lincoln's statement may well be true of all mankind it also cannot be denied that there exists a substantial body of research indicating that different cultures evidence some qualitatively different understandings of what happiness is and how to go about experiencing it. This paper presents a critique of the cross cultural psychology research on happiness. The focus is upon ..."

Tags:happiness, psychology, cross cultural differences

Abstract
In this paper, the writer studies the relationship between happiness and money. The writer discusses different interpretations of happiness. The writer concludes that the relationship between these two aspects is not as straightforward as sometimes believed.

From the Paper
"Happiness, Aristotle argues, is the one thing sought for itself and for which everything else is done. Everyone seems to agree on this even if their reasons for doing so might vary. The problem then becomes how to explain what this happiness means, for as he points out different people have different interpretations of happiness, based on their own understanding of it. Some men of the most vulgar type argue that happiness is pleasure others of superior refinement and of active disposition ... "

Tags:Aristotle, happiness, wealth, pleasure

Abstract
The paths to achieving happiness and fulfillment either through self-actualization or introspection are reviewed and thoroughly discussed. The role of the media in sowing the seeds of mistrust and unhappiness is demonstrated, as well as the inherent distain of this institution by both sides of the political spectrum. Then, the answer to a happy employee and a good employee is reviewed, but the ultimate question of what is most fulfilling in life will not be answered, since this is a question that each individual must discover for themselves.

From the Paper
"This paper shall explore the psychological aspects of happiness and well-being. The paths to achieving happiness and fulfillment either through self-actualization or introspection will be reviewed and thoroughly discussed. The role of the Media in sowing the seeds of mistrust and unhappiness will be demonstrated, as well as the inherent distain of this institution by both sides of the political spectrum. The answer to is a happy employee a good employee will be reviewed. The ultimate question of what is most fulfilling in life will not be answered, but this is a question that each individual must discover for themselves."

Tags:happiness, fulfillment, psychological

Abstract
This critical paper illustrates in a number of ways that dialectical materialism is arrived at through a process of scientific inquiry. The author gives a distinct definition of the meaning of what it is that warrants the description of a theory as "scientific". Next, she applies this definition to Marx's historical theory and shows how it corresponds to this description. Finally, she reflects and responds to some of the ways that Marx's critics are in disagreement with her argument that dialectical materialism is, in fact, a study of history that is based on scientific theory and objectivity.

From the Paper
"As a student of history, I believe that there is validity in Marx's "scientific" postulation. The study of history is very important, I believe, in discovering what lies ahead of us and how best to avoid repeating past mistakes. Although there are no "concretes" in history, and at this point, I diverge from Marxian historiography, there must be an objective way of looking at the past in order to theorize about how we have arrived at our current situations. Although I do not believe Marx's theory of history to be entirely correct, I do argue that this theory is arrived at objectively and scientifically."

Tags:dialectical, engels, history, marx, materialism, philosophy

Abstract
This paper contends that the American dream has long been a dream bought on credit, rather than something substantiated in fact. The writer discusses how the current housing crisis and credit crunch has blown this bubble, disproportionately affected minority borrowers, and shown that happiness ought not to be determined by things such as home ownership. Success has been equated with material possessions, and thus having the right material objects becomes an objective determinant of an individual's moral worth. The paper concludes that the American dream must shift to one of internal, rather than external moral values and take into account the societal, racial, and class injustices that have created the real America today.

From the Paper
"While credit card companies are partly to blame by marketing to consumers, like college students, who cannot afford to pay even their minimum monthly payments on large balances, the inability of Americans to differentiate between wants and needs is surely to blame as well. America is a nation with no real aristocracy, rather how much you make and your appearance is seen to determine your wealth as a person. Consider perhaps the paradigmatic American novel, The Great Gatsby, where the central bootlegging character creates an image of himself as a great man by buying a house in the right area of Long Island, and wearing the right clothes."

Tags:mobility capitalist entrepreneurship debt, African Americans, image poverty racism

Abstract
This paper examines how Arthur Miller's "Death of Salesman" is a view into the very heart of America. It shows that, while the subject matter pertains directly to a family on the brink of destruction, it also represents themes and ideas that travel far beyond the tiny cramped walls of the set and into the minds and hearts of every American working and struggling to this day. It discusses the idea that Americans are married to their jobs, and work for material possessions in a monotonous existence, using money to buy happiness; it attempts to compare their failures to the failures of Willy Loman in the play.

From the Paper
"There are so many comparisons between death of a salesman and the real world. Miller's play simply is an example of one member of a failed life. The very waste of talent and ability, of mind and body, is exemplified to a white, crystalline pureness, almost if the horrible nature of it was somehow purified by some means in some sick and twisted paradox. Willie was no more than seventy years old, and from birth to the grave, he woke up every morning to fight for something that can not be defeated. His wife is so supportive of him that she refuses to allow him to give up, Hap is a fool who thinks he has a chance of beating the system, and perhaps the one that is best off is Biff, but he is a vagrant bum who has no skills or trade going for him."

Tags:america, death, depression, economy