Rousseau as Totalitarian?

ROUSSEAU AS TOTALITARIAN? Rousseau, kn give as Father of Modern democratic Theory, was existence accused by other people as a Father of Totalitarianism. This is one of the contentious issues which attack Rousseaus social contract he is seen to be advocating totalistic solution or else democratic. Others whitethorn have only misunderstood the image of undemocraticism just instantaneously I tell you there is no clear evidence attending he is in favor of totalitarian. Why, then, some considered Rousseau as a totalitarian? Maybe it goes with his controersial concept of everyday exit.The general will rear be perceived as an objective truth to which every citizen must(prenominal) conform. Therefore everybody was under the control of the general will. Since totalitarianism is defined as apolitical systemwhere the state holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life whenever inevitable this means that the general will can be u se as a totalitarian device. But the methods suggested for discovering the general will were basically democratic.This concept was introduced to pr steadyt exploitation and this will only take effect if it is willed by the citizens. In this case, we can see that Rousseau was proposing that the best way for a confederacy to make decisions was really to use democratic procedures. Hence, we cannot condemn him being a totalitarian advocate just because general will reigns. After all, notwithstanding if it controls every citizen, it still comes from all and it tends always to the preservation and welfare of the self-colored and every associate.Another thing that can probably make people thinks of Rousseaus social contract as a totalitarian is due to his view of majority binds the rest. Rousseau was aware that no particular human being knows what the general will truly is that is why he proposes that what the majority has voted, it is the general will, assuming that everybody is thinki ng for the public salutary of the community and not for his own self-interest. Now problem the decision of the majority is what rules the community and we dont even know if they are really thinking for the common good of everybody.They maybe considered as one political assemblage who reigns over the community. This cannot be a valid reason for saying that Rousseau was after a totalitarian government. Remember Rousseau has insisted that the sovereign is the people and not a particular group only. And at the start of the compact, before they have voted for what they think is general will the people should give their consent to all the laws that will be passed even in their opposition.Despite that the decision of the majority wins, the people still has participated in ascertain that certain law. Rousseau was merely proposing measures aimed at creating community cohesion and preserving democracy. We can now say that his proposal was really an authentic attempt of finding a form of a ssociation which will defend and protect with the whole common force the person and goods of each associate, and in which each, while uniting himself with all, may still obey himself alone, and remain as free as before.