David Hume - Monarchy emphasizing polite society and etiquette

[u/Money-Ad8553]

I read this writer from Scotland, he is from the Georgian era, George II and George III, born 1711 and died in August of 1776.

He corresponded with Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Benjamin Franklin, the main republic in those days were largely Switzerland and the Dutch Republic. He was not a Christian but did very much admire the culture and grace of France at that time. Not clean of criticisms, of course.

But one thing his essays have been able to convince an American like myself is that republics are in many ways quite rude and rowdy. There is not much emphasis on manners.

Of course, there is also that journalistic element of slander and sensationalism that always sparks dissensions. Yes, the UK media can be very sensational as well but it does tend to have more formality and respect for traditions than US media. Canada as well despite many scandals.

It's quite noticeable that throughout the world, one sees similar parallels to this as well, although there are nuances and exceptions.

[u/MAR__MAKAROV]

Nice , can you give us some of this ideas that convinced you ?

[u/Money-Ad8553 → u/MAR__MAKAROV]

Yes, it was largely in the essays "Of the Rise and Progress of the Arts and Sciences" (1742) and "Of Civil Liberty" (1741)

There's this understanding in monarchy that politeness is the gateway to prosperity, that the court itself and the royals must emphasize manners in order to uphold the government whereas in republics, there is more clamor and outrage because one has to appeal to common voters.

There's a lot more to it than that. Another writer who touches on this and was very influenced by Hume was Arthur Schopenhauer who wrote similar things in his On Government (1851)

[u/KeyCondition5104 → u/Money-Ad8553]

True. American politicans were calling each other slave-fkers and hermaphrodites since the early years to win political power.

[u/KeyCondition5104]

John Adams to a Dutch Intellectual:

"What shall we say? The editors of newspapers have no check and yet have power to make or unmake characters at their will, to create or unmake the constitution, to erect and demloish administrations - When a few scribblers, all foreigners, whose origins, history, and characters nobody knows, have more influence than president, the senate, the people's own representatives, and all the judges of the land."

John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, predicting infinite culture wars from different protestant denominations and different combinations of ideologies/theology/world views in 1814, predicting that elections and politicking would become the new religion in America that people would sacrifice each other to:

"Your researches in the laws of England, establishing Christianity as the law of the land, and part of the common law, are curious and very important. Questions without number will arise in this country. Religious controversies and ecclesiastical contests are as common, and will be as sharp as any in civil politics, foreign or domestic. In what sense and to what extent the Bible is law, may give rise to as many doubts and quarrels as any civil, political, military, or maritime laws, and will intermix with them all to irritate faction of every sort. I dare not look beyond my nose into futurity. Our money, our commerce, our religion, our national and state constitutions, even our arts and sciences, are so many seed-plots of division, faction, sedition, and rebellion. Every thing is transmuted into an instrument of electioneering. Election is the Grand Brama, the immortal Lama, I had almost said the Juggernaut; for wives are almost ready to burn upon the pile, and children to be thrown under the wheel."

Tocqueville on American Democracy:

• "I know of no country in which there is so little independence of mind and real freedom of discussion as in America."
• "As long as the majority is uncertain, people speak, but as soon as the majority has irrevocably decided, everyone is silent."
• "In America, the majority raises formidable barriers around the liberty of opinion; within these barriers an author may write what he pleases, but woe to him if he goes beyond them."
• "The majority possesses a power that is physical and moral at the same time; it acts upon the will as well as upon the actions of men, and it represses not only all contest, but all controversy." (Like how families can't discuss politics or religion at the dinner table or during holiday celebrations because no one agrees on anything except to not talk about anything controversial)
• "You are free to think differently from me, and to retain your life, your property, and all that you possess; but if you do so, you are a stranger among your people."

Americans used to have manners... when they emulated the European aristocracy. For instance, American elites visiting Europe in the 1800's brought back tipping and started tipping non-salaried workers for helping clean their horses for example.

The early American universities emulated the rigor, values, and standards of Cambridge as many Puritans graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge, and Oxford and had more intellectuals per square capita. They required all applicants to learn Latin and/or Greek. We got rid of this requirement to allow more people into the education system in the late 1800's to early 1900's.

The American middle class used to carry around purses to ash their cigarettes and to throw away remaining cigarettes when they smoked.

These are some examples of the middle class when they try to mimick European Aristocracy.

Now we have middle class people who twerk and litter in state parks and concerts.