Skip to content
Carmelics
TopicsThinkersChangesContributorsLoading account…

    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

    Navigate

    • Topics
    • Search
    • Recent Changes
    • Contribute
    • How It Works
    • Glossary
    • Thinkers
    • Contributors
    • About
    • Statistics
    • Terms
    • Privacy

    Database

    Statements
    —
    Perspectives
    —
    Topics
    —

    Press ? for keyboard shortcuts

    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    The general will can be systematically mistaken about wha... — Carmelics
    Home
    HistoryEditSee Inverse

    Part of a larger discussion

    Challenges→In civil society, the citizen achieves moral freedom.

    The general will can be systematically mistaken about what genuinely serves the common good, as Rousseau himself admits when distinguishing it from the will of all.

    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Rousseau explicitly distinguishes volonté générale from volonté de tous, suggesting he recognized the general will's fallibility.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Collective bodies can systematically err due to group psychology, incomplete information, and coordinated manipulation by elites.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.If the general will were infallible by definition, Rousseau's warnings about corruption and degeneracy of government would be logically incoherent.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Rousseau defines the general will as what genuinely serves the common good—making systematic error a conceptual contradiction, not an admission.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.The distinction between general will and will of all describes different *sources* (collective vs. aggregate), not degrees of accuracy about the good.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Attributing fallibility to the general will empowers external judges to override it, undermining the democratic sovereignty Rousseau sought to protect.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Sign in or register to share your perspective on this statement.

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.

    Connections

    2 topics

    Social Contract1 linkedVirtue Ethics1 linked

    Related

    Attributing fallibility to the general will empowers external judges to override...Collective bodies can systematically err due to group psychology, incomplete inf...If the general will were infallible by definition, Rousseau's warnings about cor...In civil society, the citizen achieves moral freedom.
    +3 moreShow less
    Rousseau defines the general will as what genuinely serves the common good—makin...Rousseau explicitly distinguishes volonté générale from volonté de tous, suggest...The distinction between general will and will of all describes different *source...

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit