POLS 230 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Indentured Servant, Hugo Grotius
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Grotius assumes one can sell themselves n slavery through indentured slavery. Rousseau says one that goes into slavery voluntarily does not sell himself, he gives himself. What we create through government is a contract, covenant, agreement. This difficulty, in its bearing on my present subject, may be stated in the following terms. Each individual must alienate all rights to the community. Each man in giving himself to all, gives himself to nobody. Particular will the will of one individual. Will of all the will of the entire group of individuals but still each individual exercising their personal will. General will the congregate will of the group as a whole. This means nothing less than that he will be forced to be free. By following the laws, one is more free because they are benefitted in the long term by being a part of the sovereign. The subject will enjoy the benefits of society.