The general will. What is Rousseau’s “the general will”? A hermeneutical inquiry of the metaphysics, moral psychology, and political philosophy of the general will.

Abstract

A central notion to Rousseau’s The Social Contract is “the general will”. This thesis is a hermeneutical inquiry into that notion. The thesis first sets the hermeneutical horizons of quasi-realismas the metaphysical framework and non-cognitivism as a motivation theory. The inquiry then begins by Rousseau’s thought experiment on the state of nature, starting with metaphysics, which is “the coming into being” of the general will. Then it transitions into moral psychology in the horizon of non-cognitivism. This is a transition from the philosophy of principles toempirical philosophy. Finally, the findings are critiqued, defended, and applied to real-world cases in order to test their meritvia political philosophy. Some of the notions discussed are:the commongood,the legitimate state, self-love, volition of the first and second order, conflicts, and democracy. Some notable contributors include:Céline Spector, Nicholas Dent,Harry Frankfurt,John Rawls, and T. M. Scanlon.