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    Carmelics

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Original/inverse
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    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Rousseau's distinction between the will of all and the general will shows that common interest, once recognized as such, transforms individual motivation by redefining self-interest.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
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    • 1.The 'will of all' and 'general will' distinction assumes consensus on what constitutes common interest—yet societies perpetually disagree fundamentally.
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    • 2.Claiming recognition 'transforms' motivation conflates belief in collective benefit with actual behavioral change, ignoring persistent individual incentives.
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    • 3.Rousseau provides no mechanism explaining how self-interest redefines itself, risking circularity: the general will is just redefined self-interest by stipulation.
      ?

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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Humans can rationally recognize that collective flourishing serves individual interests better than pure self-aggrandizement.
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    • 2.Once people identify with a community's genuine interests, their psychological motivation shifts from external obligation to internalized commitment.
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    • 3.The general will represents enlightened self-interest: pursuing shared goods that benefit oneself as a community member.
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