Name. Prof. Dr. Syed Muhammad Ammar Hamdani.

Cell# 0321-4308548.

Rousseau Conception Of General Will.

Difference between actual and real will

The concept of general will is most fertile idea in the political writings of rousseau. In order
to understand the concept of general will, we should have to make difference between actual
will and real will.

Actual will.
It is not rational and hence promote only the will of an individual.

It is not concerned with common good of the society.

It does not express the inner freedom of the individual. It resides permanently in an
individual.

It does not promote harmony between the individual and the society. Individual always think
about his self interest. Hence, his ideas become conflict with the interest of the community.

It is not pure and does not lead to general welfare. It take into consideration the permanent
interest of an individual.

Real will.

It is rational and hence promote the general will of the society.

It is concerned with common good of the society.

It expresses the inner freedom of the individual. It resides permanently in an individual.

It also promote harmony between the individual and the society.

It is pure and perfect leading to general welfare. It take into consideration the permanent
interest of an individuals of the society.
General will:
Rousseau says that man has both actual and real will. The general will is the sum total or the
synthesis of the real wills of an individual. General will is thus the will of the citizen of the
state when they do not have private interest but the general good of all the individuals of the
state. It is the voice of all for the good of all.

He says that on any particular issue the general will play a very vital role in the betterment of
society.

First the actual will of an individual come into exist. These will is based upon the selfish
nature of an individual. There will be selfishness in actual will. After these the real will come
into exist. This is the conflict between selfish interest of the individual and the general
interest of the community. The actual will thus transform into real will. The general will
represent high type of the will of the society. After discussion and deliberation Russo believe
that it is very difficult to recognize general will.

GENERAL WILL.

General will the interpretation of Wayper.

The idea of general will is explained by prof wayper in this manner.

If an individual join an association, he may continue to think about his selfish interest. If all
member act in this way, the association can not prosper and the individual member of an
association will become prosper at the expense of an association. On the contrary, if every
member of an association start thinking of the interest of an association, the association will
become prosper. By doing this, the member of an association generating a public spirit. Russo
calls this a general will for an association.. the same example can be applied on the state.
General will is thus the will of the citizen of the state when they do not have private interest
but the general good of all the individuals of the state. It is the voice of all for the good of
all.

Russo further says that my will which is best for the state is my best will. And is indeed more
real than my private will. The general will is morally superior to any other will. Russo says
that general will is also an attribute of a state.
Conclusion.

Russo theory of general will give a concept of organic theory of state. It leads to a totalitarian
state. Russo says that state representing general will must have an absolute power over the
members of community. This is in contrast to hobbs and lock who thought that state is a
machine or device meant to promote the common good.

Second. Russo also identify general will as sovereignty. General will represents the common
good of all the member of the community. The will of each individual merge into a general
will. It is the expression of the common intreast of a society.

Third, Russo make a clear distinction between general will and will of all. General will take
into consideration only the common intreast. The will of all take private intreast into
account. Thus, will of all is sum total of will of an individual of the community about their
selfish intreast. General will represents a synthesis of the wills common to all. General will
stands for the permanent good of the society both present and future. The difference
between will of all and general will is based on the private intreast and common intreast. For
example, service of self and service of community.

Characteristic of general will.

1. GENERAL WILL IS SOVEREIGN.

GENERAL will is sovereign because it is the best will of a society. Every one will have to follow
general will. All the wills are subordinate to general will. It legitimately command the
obedience of every individual. Russo says that state representing general will must have an
absolute power over the members of community.

2. General Will is not The ”Will of All.

General Will must be distinguished from the will of all. General will is not the Will of all. In
will of all, people express and make their opinion or make a law not based on General Will,
rather, people give benefit to only a part of the community, whether minority or majority.
The will of all is thus an expression of a particular interest. Even if there is unanimity, there is
no guarantee of an expression of the general will. Thus, general will is a common good of the
society. Whereas, will of all represents the selfish intreast of an individual or group of people.
 3. General Will is not Necessarily The Will of Majority.

Roseau says that General Will does not necessarily mean the will of majority. It may even be
represented by one single individual who wishes the common good as against the
overwhelming majority, which does not cherish the common good. The ingredient of general
wills is therefore common good of the people of the society.

4. LOYALTY TO GENERAL WILL.

Russo transform the general will into a jealous God representing a new civic religion. Russo
demanding strick obedience to general will. He goes to the extent of saying that disobedience
to the general will may be visited by extreme penalty of death.

5. General will inalienable and indivisible.

General will is inalienable and indivisible. It can not represent into parliamentary institution.
Russo observes that as soon as nation appoints representatives , it is no longer free, it no
longer exists. He declared that England was only free during election after which they are
enslaved and become zero. Russo advocate direct democracy by the people and reject
indirect representative democracy.

6. NO DELEGATION OF GENERAL WILL.

General will can not be delegated, any attempt to delegate general wills will mean its
destruction. ”The moment there is a master there is no longer a sovereign. ” General will can
not be delegated to any person in any way. General will can only win, when people assemble
together for the common good of the society. Russo says that the voice of the people is the
voice of God.

7. General Will is Infallible.

General Will is also infallible because it always seeks the general good. He says, ”The General
Will is always right and tends to the public advantage.” This does not however imply that the
state is always right. Normally the deliberation of the people should promote the public good
as our will is always for our own good. Russo says that the power of the state are often
unlimited. It should not act in dictatorial manner. Russo says that if the state acts immorally,
it is denying itself and it is not true state.

8. General Will is not The Executive Will.

General Will is not the executive Will because executive is the agent of the sovereign. The
government is the agent of the people. So long as general will is sovereign, the form of
government does not matter.