What did Jean-Jacques Rousseau mean by the “general will”?(1 point)
Responses
the inalienable rights of individuals
the inalienable rights of individuals
the desires of the king
the desires of the king
the decisions of the legislature
the decisions of the legislature
the political preference of the public
the political preference of the public
Jean-Jacques Rousseau meant by the "general will" as the political preference of the public.
To find out what Jean-Jacques Rousseau meant by the "general will," we need to examine his works and ideas. Rousseau was a key philosopher during the Enlightenment period and his concept of the "general will" had a significant influence on political thought. According to Rousseau, the general will refers to the collective will or desire of the entire community or society as a whole, which represents the common interests and well-being of its members.
Rousseau believed that the general will is distinct from the will of individual citizens, as it represents the common good that is independent of personal preferences. He argued that the general will is the true and rightful source of political legitimacy and that a just government should be based on the general will of the people.
To summarize, Jean-Jacques Rousseau's concept of the "general will" refers to the collective will or desire of the entire community, representing the common interests and well-being of its members. It is distinct from the will of individuals and serves as the foundation for a just and legitimate government.