ENTRE EL REPUBLICANISMO ANTIGUO Y MODERNO: TOCQUEVILLE Y LA IDEA DE VIRTUD

This article examines Alexis de Tocqueville’s relationship with the notion of virtue in the context of ancient and modern republicanism. Starting from the enigma observed in American democracy—a republic apparently sustained by self-interest in the absence of traditional virtue—it analyzes Montesquieu’s influence, who defines virtue as sacrifice and passion for the rule, incompatible with the American reality. Tocqueville resolves this apparent contradiction through the doctrine of «self-interest rightly understood», which integrates private and public good through habits and associations, avoiding individualism and fostering dispositions such as temperance and moderation. It highlights the kinship with Aristotelian ethics, where virtue arises from habituation rather than repression, adapted to the modern democratic context. Finally, it reflects on the compatibility between virtuous excellence and democratic equality, positioning Tocqueville as a bridge between classical and modern traditions.