Daniel Boorstin's The Promise Of Democracy

Intensify reality
Daniel Boorstin, an American professor, historian, writer, and attorney, is highly celebrated for his publications that classify him as an old fashioned patriot. However, Boorstin believed that Democracy and technology had consequential effects on an American’s experiences. Also, that the problems society faces are from the success of society than its failures. Boorstin uses four consequences to determine the relationship between success that technology and democracy have with each other: attenuation, or the decline of poignancy (391), decline of congregation, or new segregation (396), new determinism, or the rising sense of momentum (397), and the belief in solutions. Boorstin believed that we need to think about a process, not about a condition, and the two sides of what is needed in order to change away from problems.
On one side what is needed there is prudence and wisdom; the other side of our need is poetry and imagination (401) Prudence gives need for a sense of history and wisdom to not be drawn into passing fads and fanaticism ideals.
Poetry and imagination have to deal with keeping the exploring spirit alive by not sacrificing the possibilities of the unknown for repeating, predictable surroundings. (401) Boorstin’s ending point, “The Promise of American democracy, I suggest, depends on our ability to stay at sea, to work together in community while we all reach to the open horizon” brings his views altogether, which express that technology and democracy may be changing how we interpret experiences, but if we work together then we can find new experiences or different technologies to “un-democratize” our view of the
world.
Today, Boorstin’s view that American experiences have become attenuated is wrong Looking at a picture of the Great Wall of China is not a way to experience the nation’s landmark. It is though, like other pictures, a way to have a visual aid so that common knowledge can grow throughout society. When photograph are viewed it is a way for people to be reminded of a special memory, and to have the ability to share their experience. This memory exchange gives other people an idea of how they might feel if they were to have a similar memory. This can allow for people to feel comfortable in a new experience that they knew others enjoyed or coped with, so when it is their own turn attenuation of the experience is out of the question. My own personal experience of a three week trip in Europe is a prime example. Growing up, I was shown pictures of Athens, Rome, and Paris, while I was in school, or from other people, but there was comparison of the experience of being in the city, meeting the people, and witness the art and architecture of the buildings. While in Athens I was awed by the sheer magnitude the temples were in size. The view on the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris could not be expressed by even a thousand pictures. Rome and Vatican City let me grasp the immensity of history which could not be experienced any way other than personal.
Boorstin’s consequence of decline of congregation is right, but is also wrong. Society has developed in a way that the congregation of people does not occur in mass gatherings; although there are conventions in modern society, effectively congregations of higher intentions. Typical congregation has moved outside of the physical realm and into the virtual realm. It is this point that could become a reason for society decline, however, the stimulation of the economy and personal interaction has become a positive. Small businesses are able to grow outwards to promote themselves and to hire more employees. Relationships between two people, whether they are between family, friends, or romantic interest, are able to grow stronger, or even develop faster. Social networking sites like Facebook allow people to interact over great distances and can also be used by schools, clubs, or other organizations, allowing a gathering of ideas. To include, information can be shared easily for all students or members in order for everyone to have the forward progress of knowledge. Dating sites like Match.com allow people to build a profile and meet other people online. In relation to Boorstin’s beliefs, these virtual congregations are about a process and not a condition, in turn, becoming an advantage and used for personal progress, so it is a solution to its own problem.
Space exploration, atomic research, a foreign aid are three things classified to come from the rising sense of momentum to Boorstin. However, from thee complications may arise, it certainly is not technology that has caused these problems. Throughout history, many nations have all provided aid to their allies, explored the expanding world while also studying the stars, and atomic research began when humans started to study what we come from. Democracy and Technology did not create these consequences. The need of understanding and compassion within human nature has created these consequences.
The fourth consequence, the belief in solutions, can also classify to be a consequence from the dream of perfection, along with a consequence of technology. Perfection is sought after by many people in society: law makers, doctors, teachers, politicians, and other individuals. Why would perfection not be wanted? If everything is perfect then if someone becomes ill then a doctor has the perfect solution to remedy said illness. When the people need a problem to be fixed, a politician would want to have a perfect plan to fix that problem. What decides perfection though? The consequence presents itself again to man, not the technology man has created. To believe in a solution is not a consequence, it is a message of hope.
Wisdom, poetry, and imagination are true traits that are needed. When a person has wisdom, the ability to distinguish when life should have a level of risk involved or when life should be lived conservatively. Following our imagination with a poetic mind with our wisdom we can navigate the unknown, have unique surroundings, and enjoy experiences without attenuation. Prudence is a trait needed when used outside of modern English, where it is becoming synonymous with cautiousness. Prudence is needed in the form of it as a virtue, defined as the ability to govern and discipline oneself by reason. Boorstin has offered these needs as the starting point to intensify our experiences.