Abstract: In the field of social economy, the market has more significant advantages in allocating resources and promoting economic development than the direct intervention of the government. However, from the perspective of political philosophy, the unlimited expansion of the market will lead to the prevalence of egoism and materialism,resulting in the fall of social public virtue and the poverty of spiritual life, which is contrary to the ethical tradition and practice of human society, thus forming the paradox of the market. Tocqueville analyzed the crisis of modern democratic society in his exploration of "the nature of democracy",and concluded that the specific manifestation of the crisis was consistent with the threat posed by the market to the ethical world, so the solution he offered was a main "political solution", which was enlightening for overcoming the paradox of the market in both theoretical and practical senses.

Key words: paradox of market, egoism, materialism, public virtue, Tocqueville