Living In A Rousseauan Society

The positive:

• The general will could ensure an equal society.
• Major inequalities would be absent.
• It would be a small society, as Jean-Jacques Rousseau feared a large country would not find the common cause.
• People would be able to act freely within a sphere decided by the general will.

The negative:

• Since the general will can be applied to almost any facet of life, the people, or legislator, may decide to create an oppressive society.
• Individual rights only exist as far as the general will thinks they should.
• If your interests differ from the general will, you can be dragged along.