The Social Contract and Discourse on the Origin of Inequality

The concept of the 'general will' feels central to the book's message, but I'm curious about what motivated Rousseau to develop this idea and how he envisioned it working in practice.

Rousseau's ideas are groundbreaking but also complex, especially when thinking about current democratic systems. How do these concepts hold up today?

Knowing that Rousseau had a tumultuous life, I wonder how his personal struggles and political context shaped the arguments made in this book.