The Social Contract

Exploring the relationship between individuals and civil society, Rousseau's work outlines a framework for a community that balances personal liberty with mutual preservation. Central to his philosophy are concepts like General Will and Sovereignty, which assert that all individuals must participate in the social contract, even if it involves coercion. This paradoxical notion is encapsulated in the provocative idea that people may need to be "forced to be free," highlighting the tension between individual freedom and societal obligations.