PHIL2634 Study Guide - Final Guide: French Revolution
Document Summary
For rousseau good or bad qualities are not inherent in human nature . It is difficult to distinguish between the original and the artificial in the nature of man. Human nature is unknown, rights cannot be natural" the social contract -social contract is a natural right,that creates the general will. Society"s legitimacy is founded on popular sovereignty, and sovereignty remains with the people. The social contract manifests the movement of individuals from a natural state of independence to civil authority. For rousseau there are different kinds of contracts. There neither is nor can be any kind of fundamental law binding on the body of the people not even the social contract itself. sovereignty and the general will: indestructibility of the general. The general will for rousseau expresses the genuine interests of the people and exists whether or not people perceive or endorse it. It comprises not of the strengthening of individual wills but its complete abandonment.
