Jean Jacques Rousseau The Social Contract -

: This is the collective interest of all citizens, distinct from the mere sum of their individual desires. Rousseau argues that by submitting to the general will, an individual obeys only themselves and remains free.

: Sovereignty belongs to the whole population, not a monarch. Rousseau rejected the "divine right" of kings, asserting that legitimate authority rests solely on the consent of the governed. Jean Jacques Rousseau The Social Contract

Published in 1762, Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s ( Du contrat social ) is a cornerstone of modern political philosophy that examines the legitimacy of governmental authority. Rousseau famously opens with the provocative line, "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains," arguing that individuals can only achieve true freedom by living under laws they have collectively authored through the General Will . Core Philosophical Concepts : This is the collective interest of all