more on this theme | more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
Just as a private will cannot represent the general will, the general will, for its part, alters its nature when it has a particular object.
Gist of Idea
The general will changes its nature when it focuses on particulars
Source
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (The Social Contract (tr Cress) [1762], II.04)
Book Ref
Rousseau,Jean-Jacques: 'The Basic Political Writings', ed/tr. Cress,Donald A. [Hackett 1987], p.157
A Reaction
Is the general will, then, in danger of being much too general, because as soon as it gets close to anything practical it becomes distorted. It can design the constitution, but can it give a view on capital punishment, or is that too personal?