Jean-Jacques Rousseau was an Enlightenment thinker who believed that men are naturally good; however, they can be better. He was born in Switzerland on June 28, 1712, and died in France on July 2, 1778. Rousseau’s ideas of society were different than other Enlightenment thinker’s ideas. He believed in the general will; the general will is the expression of the community. Man is naturally good however they are selfish and they do not know how to control their impulses. Although, by following the general will men would "nevertheless obey only himself..." By giving up their powers the people become civil citizens. people had to follow the general will, they can try to disobey but the government will force them to follow it "..that whoever refuses
