Reconciling Freedom and Authority: Rousseau’s Political Philosophy of the General Will
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53983/ijmds.v15n01.006Keywords:
Autonomy, Social, Contract, Free Will, AuthorityAbstract
In his political philosophy, Jean-Jacques Rousseau makes a significant endeavour to reconcile the apparent conflict between individual freedom and collective authority. In particular, his concept of the general will is a prime example of this approach. Rousseau’s The Social Contract (1762) places a significant emphasis on the concept of the general will, which represents the communal interest and goes above individual preferences in order to provide for the common good. The purpose of this study is to investigate how Rousseau’s framework addresses the contradiction of being “forced to be free” by proving that true liberty can be found in the conformity to self-prescribed laws through the common will. This study emphasizes the lasting significance of Rousseau’s theories in addressing the balance between human autonomy and legitimate authority in modern democratic administration. This is accomplished by studying the philosophical foundations, practical implications, and criticisms of Rousseau’s theory. The essay highlights the theoretical contributions that Rousseau’s philosophy has made to contemporary political theory, while at the same time noting the criticisms that have been levelled against ambiguity and the possibility of misuse.
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