can direct the state to achieve the common good. The conflict between private interests made civil societies a necessity, but it is the harmony between them that has made it possible to have civil societies. The commonality of those interests allows for a social bond. Without a social bond the society could never exist. (Social, p.69) This point of view is very Marxian and stresses the importance of everyone being equal and the same.He goes on to write, “the general will studies only the common interest while the will of all studies private interest.”(Social, p.72) Anyone outside of the common interest is alienated and not included. Rousseau believes that individuals need the general will to keep equality present and to have a peaceful society. Human nature wants more so the general will holds them back. In a democracy this is not the case. Even those outside the common interest have rights, and are protected and included by the government. With the will of all having a part in the government, there is democracy. Rousseau wants to leave out the will of all to avoid more conflict.In Rousseau’s society the sovereign can demand services from the citizens whenever necessary. This commitment of everybody to render services to the state is legally constraining. The general will must be general in purpose and nature in order to provide equal rights and justice. The general will must come from all and apply to all, it must not be directed towards any particular object or being. Each man must think of him as part of a ‘we’ and nothing else. (Social, pages 74-75) The whole idea of an individual is lost from this angle of thought. What one own truly belongs to the sovereignty, which means the state. Everybody must be given property to live with, but it is not really theirs to own as long as it can be taken away from them at any given moment. Rousseau creates a faceless, wealthless society in this section of his book.O...
