Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau added a new type of will to those discussed by philosophers, which he called the "General will" (volonté générale). This concept developed from Rousseau's considerations on the social contract theory of Hobbes, and describes the shared will of a whole citizenry, whose agreement is understood to exist in discussions about the legitimacy of governments and laws.
Read more about this topic: Will (philosophy)
Famous quotes containing the word rousseau:
“Although modesty is natural to man, it is not natural to children. Modesty only begins with the knowledge of evil.”
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778)
“The general will is always right.”
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778)
“No true believer could be intolerant or a persecutor. If I were a magistrate and the law carried the death penalty against atheists, I would begin by sending to the stake whoever denounced another.”
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778)