ABSTRACT
Explorations of philosophical ideas on the most suitable and ideal state has been variously conceived in contemporary political thoughts. The general will, having its origins in theological debates, ultimately became one of the most celebrated and denigrated concepts emerging from early modern political thought. For which Jean-Jacques Rousseau made it the central element of his political theory; for it means a “will that must come from all and apply to all” (Social Contract, 15) The General Will became a normative concept which Rousseau used as a means of reconciling individual freedom and collective responsibility. The main line of argument of this study develops on the utopian nature of the concept of the general will in Rousseau’s …show more content…
For the researcher shall specifically be concerned about Rousseau theory of the general will, and its relationship with society in terms of good governance and Legitimacy. Extensive concentration would be placed on three primary works of Rousseau which are The Discourse of Inequality, The Social Contract and the Discourse on Political Economy. I will also employ the use of other secondary materials in order to achieve the goals of this paper.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This philosophic work attempts to add to the body of knowledge already existing in the Nigerian socio-political space and tries to identify the problems that have bedevilled her since independence, also procuring treatment with the deductions or implications drawn from the concept of General Will of Jean Jacques Rousseau. This essay becomes relevant in our present day as it would help us understand that inequality as well as self-centeredness is not a part of our nature and as such, efforts should be made to eradicate it from our society. It should also help us to understand that as members of a society, we are meant to have a say in what goes on in society such that one knows one’s right and does not allow it be trampled upon by anyone. Also, this essay would help us understand the grounds or basis of our political obligation. Finally, this dissertation serves as one of the prerequisite for the award of Masters of Arts in Philosophy from the Department of Philosophy in the Faculty of Humanities, of the School of Graduate Studies, University of Port Harcourt,
Explorations of philosophical ideas on the most suitable and ideal state has been variously conceived in contemporary political thoughts. The general will, having its origins in theological debates, ultimately became one of the most celebrated and denigrated concepts emerging from early modern political thought. For which Jean-Jacques Rousseau made it the central element of his political theory; for it means a “will that must come from all and apply to all” (Social Contract, 15) The General Will became a normative concept which Rousseau used as a means of reconciling individual freedom and collective responsibility. The main line of argument of this study develops on the utopian nature of the concept of the general will in Rousseau’s …show more content…
For the researcher shall specifically be concerned about Rousseau theory of the general will, and its relationship with society in terms of good governance and Legitimacy. Extensive concentration would be placed on three primary works of Rousseau which are The Discourse of Inequality, The Social Contract and the Discourse on Political Economy. I will also employ the use of other secondary materials in order to achieve the goals of this paper.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This philosophic work attempts to add to the body of knowledge already existing in the Nigerian socio-political space and tries to identify the problems that have bedevilled her since independence, also procuring treatment with the deductions or implications drawn from the concept of General Will of Jean Jacques Rousseau. This essay becomes relevant in our present day as it would help us understand that inequality as well as self-centeredness is not a part of our nature and as such, efforts should be made to eradicate it from our society. It should also help us to understand that as members of a society, we are meant to have a say in what goes on in society such that one knows one’s right and does not allow it be trampled upon by anyone. Also, this essay would help us understand the grounds or basis of our political obligation. Finally, this dissertation serves as one of the prerequisite for the award of Masters of Arts in Philosophy from the Department of Philosophy in the Faculty of Humanities, of the School of Graduate Studies, University of Port Harcourt,