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In what senses are individual citizens in Rousseau’s state ‘free’?
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In what senses are individual citizens in Rousseau's state 'free'? "While uniting himself with all, [each associate] may still obey himself alone, and remain as free as before."1 While Rousseau would claim that citizens in his state are free, much of the criticism levelled against him is precisely because his state is seen as authoritarian and against individual diversity. Rousseau's state is one created by all citizens in their own interests and therefore guided by the 'general will', whereby laws are made to promote the public rather than the private good. All citizens take an active part in decision-making and are required to adhere to the 'general will'. Sovereignty is a key word in examining Rousseau's state as it is held by the inalienable and indivisible body politic that acts in accordance with the 'general will'. With this in mind, it is necessary to examine the meaning in politics of the...
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