Question

Why should citizens be the authors of society’s laws, according to Rousseau?

Answer 1

Citizens should be the authors of society's laws according to Rousseau because in that way they are free and follow their own rules, created by the General Will of the people. Rousseau thought that only the Republic is acceptable as a form of government, and in it all the people are in charge of creating the law.

Answer 2

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born in 1712 in Switzerland. He was a writer, philosopher and political theorist. His main concern as a philosopher was the fundamental necessity of freedom , which was inherent in human nature.

One of the central concepts he formulated was that of the general will. To him, this concept depends on the sovereign which is represented by the requirements,wants and needs of all the people in general.

In his opinion, the general will would have the objective of achieving the common good which is the best for the whole society.

The embodiment of the general will in a society ,where everyone agrees on what is best and most beneficial for the majority, is the law.

Following these principles, Rousseau believed that citizens should be the authors of their laws as they are the ones who know the real necessities of the whole society and also the only ones who will guarantee the essentiality of freedom.