Question

Which of the following statement are CORRECT about Rousseau's concept of the General Will?
(A) Rousseau in his Discourse on Political Economy stated the concept of the General Will.
(B) General Will is driven towards the preservation and welfare of the whole and of every part.
(C) The General Will comes from all and applies to all.
(D) It embodies the free rational will of all.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. A, B and D only
• B. A, B and C only
• C. A, B, C and D
• D. B, C and D only

Hint:

Rousseau’s General Will emphasizes the collective welfare and rational will of the people, a central idea in his theory of democracy and the social contract.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding Rousseau's General Will.
Rousseau's General Will, detailed in The Social Contract, is the collective will of the people aimed at the common good and societal welfare. It's not simply the sum of individual desires, but the collective interest exceeding them.
Step 2: Analysis of options.
- (A) Rousseau articulated the General Will in his Discourse on Political Economy: Correct. Rousseau addresses the General Will in both his Discourse on Political Economy and The Social Contract.
- (B) The General Will seeks the preservation and welfare of the whole and its parts: Correct. Rousseau's General Will intends to preserve and enhance the entire community's well-being.
- (C) The General Will originates from and applies to all: Correct. Rousseau posited that the General Will comes from the people and applies equally to everyone.
- (D) It represents the free rational will of all: Correct. The General Will embodies the collective's free and rational will, not individual wants.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (3) A, B, C and D, because all statements accurately reflect Rousseau's General Will.