Rousseau's Social Contract

Rousseau begins his argument on the conception of freedom that goes contradictory to that of Mill. In this sense, he suggests that society must undergo a transformation or transition from the natural state to the civil state society, and that this society may be considered both free and subject to some legitimate form of political authority. Rousseau believes that this political authority is not found in the natural state, which he considers limited only by the power of natural superiority or the private interests of individuals, proving it to be illegitimate, and therefore leaving the natural state as unacceptable.

Mill refutes this transitioning process on the basis that he does not consider, that the two forms of social freedom (the natural …show more content…
Rousseau believes that, in order to achieve such, unity of the people must be of complete whole, and that all must comply with the social contract. Mill, on the other hand may argue in advantage to the individual or particular will (the good of the individual), that not all in society will conform to the social contract, and would prefer their private interests and individuality instead of the public good. Therefore, proposing individualism as a threat to Rousseau’s social contract in regards to “the problem to find form of association”.
Rousseau agrees coherently with Mill’s supposition that individuals within society may have conflicting views from that of the whole. He consequently does not accept that privatised interests (particular will) of the individual needs any sort of acknowledgment. He also encourages such on the basis that particular will is realized as a notion to that of individualism, and must therefore be …show more content…
Rousseau believes that if an individual (the minority) refuse to obey the social compact or general will (the majority) by means of the particular will, it must then mean that these individuals cannot make the righteous decisions for themselves and would need the guidance of the collective in order to join the social compact and conform to the general will, as the general will represents the meaning of what is good for all, hence; ‘to be forced to be free’. In other words, Rousseau fully entrust his notion on the general will as he believes that the common good does not fall in one particular aspect of an individual, but rather that of the whole society. If these individuals refute, and do not conform to the contract, it must be the responsibility of society or general will to force them to be free, and to therefore conform to the