Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Human Nature, and the General WIll

By: Arjun Verma

​Jean-Jacques Rousseau was an Enlightenment political philosopher who was one of the originators of the idea of a social contract and was a proponent of natural human freedom in contrast to the restrictions of society.

What did Rousseau believe?

This is a photo I took of Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. Iceland and many other Scandinavian nations have an extremely high standard of living. If states materially improve the lives of their citizens through social programs, is the philosophical tainting that a state theoretically poses relevant?

Rousseau was famous for his defense of the idea that humans were naturally good. Rousseau, just like Hobbes, theorized that there existed a state of nature; however, his version of this condition was radically different. Rousseau argued that people had no reason to be morally evil to one another; instead, they were peaceful and free. People solely focused on their primitive necessities, like food, shelter, and water, without the drive to accumulate resources endlessly.

Despite this utopian world, at least for Rousseau, people created a state to bring themselves out of the state of nature. It was this formation that Rousseau believed corrupted human nature. Through social institutions, humans developed feelings of greed, envy, and perverseness. Therefore, society had not freed mankind from the state of nature, but it had turned freedom into an instrument. As Rousseau himself proclaimed, “"man is born free, but he is everywhere in chains."

Likewise, Rousseau also critiqued the advancement of the sciences and technology. He pointed out how they too had negatively influenced human nature. They had shifted human priorities from personal relationships to materialistic goals, which Rousseau was deeply concerned about.

However, there was a compromise possible. Even though society had typically been organized in such a way that it paradoxically restricted freedom, Rousseau created the idea of a general will to resolve this problem. The general will was the idea that a government could uphold liberty and freedom through democracy. Laws in a legitimate state would be universally applicable. According to Rousseau, this would incentivize fair laws because there would be no exceptions for the legislators, eliminating the incentive for corrupt loopholes. People would possess the same freedom and moral character as they did in the state of nature.

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​Why are his beliefs applicable today?

​Rousseau’s ideas may seem inapplicable due to the near inevitability of organized society, yet they do offer guidance on how to navigate life despite the challenges.

First, Rousseau’s thesis of human nature conveys the message that it’s important for people to not become restricted by social norms. Of course, some norms are there for the betterment of society, but ideas of what it means to be successful are often tainted by these norms. For example, success today is often measured in terms of money instead of the true pleasure that one experiences in life.

Second, Rousseau’s description of the symbolic harms of technology demonstrate that life is about more than a screen. People should seek to form interpersonal relationships as the temptation of technology often undermines long-term happiness for the sake of fleeting short-term pleasures. 

Third, Rousseau’s rejection of representative democracy and endorsement of directly willing laws by citizens is clearly impossible today, but its principles are still relevant. For example, citizens should not only be politically active on election day. Politics is a continuous struggle for justice and a better world, and citizens need to be constantly engaged making their voice heard. In order for the general will to be actualized, everyone needs to be contributing to the democratic forum. Attending protests, interacting with representatives, and signing petitions are all productive actions that contribute to a well-functioning democracy.

Overall, Rousseau’s philosophical viewpoints may seem idealistic, utopian, or even blatantly incorrect; however, their principles are practical in developing a better society.

Arjun Verma

Arjun is a current high school junior. He is a captain of his high school's Lincoln Douglas debate team.