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 concept of the General Will, as described in his work The Social Contract, refers to the collective will of the people, which is directed towards the common good and the welfare of the whole society. The General Will is not merely the sum of individual wills but represents the collective interest that transcends individual desires.
Step 2: Analysis of options.
- (A) Rousseau in his Discourse on Political Economy stated the concept of the General Will: This is correct. Rousseau discusses the General Will in his Discourse on Political Economy and The Social Contract.
- (B) General Will is driven towards the preservation and welfare of the whole and of every part: This is correct. Rousseau's General Will aims to preserve and promote the welfare of the entire community.
- (C) The General Will comes from all and applies to all: This is correct. Rousseau believed the General Will emanated from the people and applied to everyone equally.
- (D) It embodies the free rational will of all: This is correct. The General Will represents the free and rational will of the collective, not individual desires.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (3) A, B, C and D, as all the statements are true in relation to Rousseau's General Will.