Rousseau posits that sovereignty is vested in the 'General Will,' which represents the collective interest of the community aimed at the common good. Unlike the 'will of all,' which is merely the sum of individual selfish desires, the General Will is the moral and rational consensus of the citizens. By obeying the General Will, individuals remain free because they are essentially obeying laws they have collectively prescribed for themselves.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau is central to the discourse on natural liberty. In his works, he explores the transition from the state of nature, where humans are naturally free, to civil society. He argues that while natural liberty is lost upon entering the social contract, it is replaced by civil and moral liberty through the General Will.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in his 'Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men', argued that the invention of private property was the primary cause of human inequality and social conflict. He famously described the moment someone first enclosed a piece of land and claimed it as their own as the beginning of civil society's corruption, effectively introducing a 'serpent' of greed and competition into human relations.

In 'The Social Contract', Rousseau argued that a state should be small enough for the citizens to know one another and for the general will to be effectively expressed. He suggested that a population of around 10,000 was ideal for maintaining the direct participation and civic virtue necessary for a functioning republic, as larger states risked becoming unwieldy and corrupt.

In 'The Social Contract', Rousseau famously opens with the assertion that while humans are born with natural liberty, the structures of modern society, including laws and property, have placed them in metaphorical chains. This reflects his belief that civilization has corrupted the original state of human innocence and equality, necessitating a new social contract based on the general will.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau is famously associated with the concept of natural liberty. In his political philosophy, he contrasts the 'natural liberty' individuals possess in the state of nature—limited only by their own strength—with the 'civil liberty' they gain through the social contract, which is limited by the general will. This transition is central to his theory of legitimate political authority and the preservation of human freedom within a structured society.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born in Geneva in 1712. His upbringing in the independent city-state of Geneva significantly influenced his political thought, particularly his admiration for small, participatory republics and his belief in the 'general will.' His works, such as 'The Social Contract,' became foundational texts for modern democratic theory and popular sovereignty.

Rousseau is famous for the concept of the 'General Will' rather than 'General Welfare'. While the General Will aims for the common good, the term 'General Welfare' is more closely associated with utilitarian or modern welfare state discourse. Rousseau's focus on collective sovereignty often contrasts with the individualistic focus of classical liberalism, making the attribution of 'General Welfare' as a core liberal contribution problematic in his specific philosophical framework.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued in 'The Social Contract' that legitimate political authority is derived from a social contract among the people. He rejected the idea that authority could be based on force or natural hierarchy. Instead, he proposed that individuals collectively agree to form a body politic, governed by the 'General Will,' which ensures that citizens remain free while living under the laws they have collectively created for the common good.

Rousseau's 'General Will' is distinct from the 'will of all,' which is merely the sum of individual private interests. Instead, the General Will represents the collective interest of the community aimed at the common good. It is the expression of the citizens' moral consciousness when they act as members of the body politic, seeking justice and the welfare of the entire society rather than personal gain.