In his 'Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men,' Rousseau argues that the invention of private property was the catalyst for human corruption. He posits that the transition from a state of nature to civil society, marked by the claim of ownership over land and resources, introduced greed, social inequality, and competition, thereby alienating humans from their natural goodness and authentic self.

Rousseau's political philosophy centers on the 'General Will,' which is distinct from the 'General Welfare.' While he advocated for natural equality and the consent of the governed, his concept of the General Will refers to the collective interest of the community as a whole, rather than the utilitarian concept of general welfare. His work emphasizes popular sovereignty and the moral necessity of collective decision-making in a legitimate state.

In Rousseau's 'The Social Contract', individuals enter into an agreement to form a collective body. By surrendering their natural liberty to the community, they gain civil liberty. This collective body acts according to the 'General Will,' ensuring that individuals remain free by obeying laws they have collectively created, rather than submitting to the arbitrary power of a monarch or a specific legislative body.

Critics argue that the General Will is conceptually vague, making it difficult to identify in practice. Furthermore, scholars point out that Rousseau's model, which relies on direct participation, is impractical for large, modern nation-states. Finally, critics suggest that the General Will is an elusive ideal that is only fleetingly realized, if at all, in actual political governance, leading to concerns about potential authoritarian interpretations.

Rousseau discusses capital punishment in 'The Social Contract,' arguing that a criminal who violates the social contract becomes a rebel and a traitor to the state. He suggests that the state may execute such an individual as a public enemy to preserve the safety of the community, viewing it as a necessary measure for the protection of the social body.

Rousseau argued that sovereignty resides in the 'General Will' of the people. This is not merely the sum of individual interests or a simple majority vote, but the collective interest aimed at the common good. By participating in the General Will, individuals remain free because they are obeying laws they have prescribed for themselves as part of the sovereign body politic.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau spent his final weeks at the estate of the Marquis de Girardin in Ermenonville, France. He died there on July 2, 1778. His remains were originally interred on the Île des Peupliers within the estate before being moved to the Panthéon in Paris during the French Revolution as a tribute to his intellectual influence.

For Rousseau, the 'General Will' is distinct from the 'will of all' (the sum of private interests). It represents the 'real will' of the citizens—the collective interest aimed at the common good, which transcends individual desires and represents the true moral freedom of the community.

Charles L. Wayper, in his analysis of political thought, critiqued Rousseau's influence. He argued that while Rousseau championed reason, his emphasis on emotion and the general will inadvertently paved the way for irrationalist political movements that characterized later periods of history.

Rousseau argues that true liberty is not the absence of law, but obedience to the 'general will'—a collective expression of the common interest. By participating in the creation of laws that apply to everyone equally, individuals remain as free as they were before, as they are essentially obeying themselves through the social contract.