General Will

Definition

The general will is a concept developed by the Enlightenment philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, which refers to the collective will or desire of the people as a whole, rather than the individual will or the will of a particular group or faction. It represents the common good or interest of the community.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The general will is the foundation of Rousseau's social contract theory, which aims to reconcile individual liberty with the need for social order and political authority.
2. According to Rousseau, the general will is the collective expression of the common good, which takes precedence over individual or factional interests.
3. The general will is not simply the aggregation of individual wills, but a higher, more abstract expression of the shared interests and values of the community.
4. Rousseau believed that the general will is the source of legitimate political authority, as it represents the collective will of the people.
5. The general will is not always easy to discern, as it may not align with the immediate desires or preferences of individual citizens.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of the general will is central to Rousseau's social contract theory.
  • In Rousseau's social contract theory, the general will is the foundation for legitimate political authority. The general will represents the collective desire and common good of the people, which takes precedence over individual or factional interests. By entering into a social contract and submitting to the general will, individuals surrender their natural rights in exchange for the protection and benefits of organized society. The general will is the source of the sovereign's power, as it reflects the shared interests and values of the community as a whole.
• Describe the relationship between the general will and the state of nature in Rousseau's political philosophy.
  • Rousseau's concept of the general will is closely tied to his idea of the state of nature, which represents a hypothetical pre-social condition of human beings. In the state of nature, individuals are free and autonomous, but lack the social institutions and political authority necessary for organized society. Rousseau believed that by entering into a social contract and submitting to the general will, individuals could escape the limitations and uncertainties of the state of nature and enjoy the benefits of a well-ordered, sovereign state that protects their natural rights and promotes the common good.
• Analyze how the general will relates to the concept of sovereignty in a democratic system.
  • In Rousseau's political philosophy, the general will is the source of legitimate political authority and sovereignty. In a democratic system, the sovereign power is vested in the people, and the general will represents the collective expression of the people's shared interests and values. The government, as the representative of the people, derives its authority from the general will and is obligated to act in accordance with it. This means that the government must make decisions and enact policies that serve the common good, rather than the interests of a particular group or faction. The general will, therefore, is the foundation of democratic sovereignty, as it ensures that the political system reflects the will of the people as a whole.

Related terms

Social Contract: The social contract is an agreement between individuals in a society to cooperate for social benefits, establishing political authority in exchange for protection of their natural rights.

State of Nature: The state of nature is a hypothetical condition of human beings before the establishment of organized society, characterized by the absence of political authority and social institutions.

Sovereignty: Sovereignty is the supreme power or authority within a territory, which in a democracy is vested in the people and exercised through their elected representatives.