This iconic opening line from Jean-Jacques Rousseau's 'The Social Contract' (1762) highlights the paradox of human existence in civil society. Rousseau argues that while humans are born with natural liberty, they are constrained by the artificial laws, social hierarchies, and institutions of modern society. He seeks to reconcile this loss of natural freedom with the necessity of living within a legitimate political community.

Rousseau's ideas regarding popular sovereignty, the general will, and the critique of social inequality were instrumental in fueling the French Revolution. His writings provided the intellectual framework for the revolutionaries to challenge the absolute monarchy and the feudal order, advocating for a society based on equality and the collective will of the people.

Rousseau argues that the general will represents the true interest of the collective. Because the general will is sovereign, an individual who refuses to obey it is essentially refusing to be free. Therefore, the state is justified in forcing the individual to comply, which Rousseau famously describes as 'forcing them to be free,' ensuring the integrity of the social contract.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a seminal figure in political philosophy known for his work on the social contract and the general will, was born on June 28, 1712, and passed away on July 2, 1778. Calculating his lifespan based on these dates confirms he was 66 years old at the time of his death in Ermenonville, France.

Rousseau's 'noble savage' concept describes humans in their pre-societal state as naturally compassionate, solitary, and free from the vices introduced by civilization. He believed that society, rather than nature, was the source of human corruption and conflict.

Rousseau's 'Confessions' is a pioneering work of autobiography. It is renowned for its unprecedented level of personal honesty, where he details his virtues, vices, and intimate experiences. By exposing his own flaws, he aimed to present a complete and truthful portrait of a human being, influencing the genre of confessional literature for centuries to come.

In his seminal work 'The Social Contract', Rousseau argued that individuals could regain their moral freedom by entering into a new social contract. This agreement involves the total alienation of each associate, together with all his rights, to the whole community. By submitting to the 'General Will', individuals cease to be slaves to their private interests and become citizens, thereby achieving a form of collective liberty and political legitimacy.

In 'The Social Contract', Rousseau proposes that the only way to reconcile human freedom with the necessity of living in a society is through a new social contract. This agreement allows individuals to unite under a collective authority that represents the general will, thereby preserving their moral freedom while living within a structured political community.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau is considered the high priest of popular sovereignty. Through his concept of the 'General Will', he argued that legitimate political authority resides in the collective body of the people. Unlike earlier theories that located sovereignty in a monarch, Rousseau insisted that the people themselves are the ultimate source of law and authority.

Rousseau explicitly distinguished the General Will from the 'will of all' or the simple majority. While the majority might be swayed by private interests or factions, the General Will represents the common interest of the entire community. It is an objective moral standard that aims at the public good. Therefore, equating the General Will with a mere majority vote is a fundamental misunderstanding of his political philosophy.