the Rise of Imperial Self

This work establishes a genealogy of aristocracy, and places America within an aristocratic tradition originally articulated by St Augustine, but adapted to American society by Alexis de Tocqueville. Dworkin also traces the evolution of American culture from Tocqueville's America. The Rise of the Imperial Self establishes a geneaology of aristocracy and places America firmly within an aristocratic tradition originally articulated by St. Augustine, but adapted to American society by Alexis de Tocqueville. Ronald W. Dworkin then traces the evolution of American culture from Tocqueville's America, when American aristocracy was defined by a love of something beyond the self to today's preoccupation with individuality, self-expression, autonomy, and self-esteem—the 'imperial self.'