What does Rousseau mean by the terms “Sovereign Authority,” “General Will,” and the Social Contract?

Questions for Discussion and Short Paper on The Social Contract (1762)
1. What does Rousseau mean by the terms “Sovereign Authority,” “General Will,” and the Social Contract? What function does the “General Will” serve in his political theory? How is it to be determined? Does his concept of a “General Will” have relevance to the U.S. today?
2. What are the types of government and what is the best form of government according to Rousseau? How do Rousseau’s views on society and the body politic and its political development compare and contrast with those of Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Adam Smith (The Wealth of Nations)?
3. Do you see Rousseau more as an embodiment of Enlightenment values or a thinker who repudiates Enlightenment values? What are his views on democracy and revolution? Why do some thinkers view Rousseau as a champion of democracy whereas others see him as a spiritual precursor of totalitarianism and dictatorship?
4. Does Rousseau’s Social Contract have any relevance to our understanding of the state of government, law, and the political process today? What examples would you cite to corroborate your argument?

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