Jean-Jacques Rousseau – Freedom, General Will & Popular Sovereignty
UPSC PSIR | Western Political Thinkers | Social Contract – Phase III
1️⃣ INTRODUCTION
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778) wrote The Social Contract (1762).
His central claim:
“Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.”
Rousseau tries to reconcile authority with freedom.
2️⃣ STATE OF NATURE
Unlike Hobbes (war) and Locke (peace with rights), Rousseau describes:
- Simple life
- Compassion (pitié)
- Natural equality
- Minimal conflict
Corruption begins with private property.
3️⃣ ORIGIN OF INEQUALITY
Rousseau argues inequality began when someone said:
“This is mine.”
- Private property creates inequality
- Social comparison creates jealousy
- Civilization corrupts natural goodness
4️⃣ SOCIAL CONTRACT
Rousseau’s contract is different:
- No surrender to ruler
- No trustee model
- People collectively form sovereign body
Each person gives himself to the whole community.
5️⃣ GENERAL WILL
Most important concept.
- Not majority opinion
- Not private interest
- Represents common good
General Will is always right in principle.
Law expresses General Will.
6️⃣ POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY
- Sovereignty resides in people
- It is indivisible
- It cannot be represented
Rousseau rejects representative democracy.
7️⃣ FREEDOM IN ROUSSEAU
- Natural freedom → Doing what one desires
- Civil freedom → Obeying laws we make ourselves
Freedom = Obedience to self-imposed law.
MAINS QUESTIONS
- Explain Rousseau’s concept of General Will.
- How does Rousseau reconcile freedom and authority?
- Compare Rousseau with Locke.
QUICK REVISION MAP
- Natural goodness
- Property → inequality
- General Will
- Popular sovereignty
- Direct democracy
“Freedom is obedience to the law one prescribes to oneself.”
Shaktimatha Learning – Social Contract Series
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