Single Idea 7246

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 2. State Legitimacy / d. General will]

Full Idea

By themselves the people always will what is good, but by themselves they do not always discern it.

Gist of Idea

The general will is always good, but sometimes misunderstood

Source

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (The Social Contract (tr Cress) [1762], II.06)

Book Reference

Rousseau,Jean-Jacques: 'The Social Contract', ed/tr. Cranston,Maurice [Penguin 1972], p.83


A Reaction

This sounds like a can of worms. It invites someone to step in as interpreter - a spin doctor, perhaps, or a newspaper proprietor. The first proposition strikes me as absurdly optimistic. Think of the people of Europe in August 1914.