Abstract
This chapter explores some general considerations about Jean-Jacques Rousseau's understanding of public reason, explaining how public reason is always relative to a particular public. It discusses the central case of public reason that of the general will of a state and Rousseau's idea that the general will must both come from all citizens via a process of public decision-making which generates valid laws, and applies to all citizens and be justifiable to each of them. The chapter expresses some skepticism about how successful Rousseau's project is in achieving these aims. Returning to the theme of the relativity of public reason, it looks at Rousseau's use of this idea as he tracks the way in which the collective will of the magistrates comes to dominate over the general will of citizens as the state loses its legitimacy over time. Finally, the chapter looks at Rousseau's anticipation of Rawlsian thoughts on overlapping consensus and religious pluralism with his doctrine of civil religion.
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