The General Will before Rousseau: The Transformation of the Divine into the Civic (Studies in Moral, Political, and Legal Philos,New

Review 'A most important contribution to the study of Enlightenment political and social ideas, accessible to public library patrons as well as academic readers. The author presents a very convincing claim that the doctrine of the general will emerged as a theological idea, predating by over a century Rousseau's famous political application in the Social Contract. There is a very impressive marshaling of literary evidence, moderated by a clear facility with the argumentative and writing styles of the major participants.' Choice Product Description Patrick Riley traces the forgotten roots of Rousseau's concept to seventeenthcentury questions about the justice of God. If He wills that all men be saved, does He have a general will that produces universal salvation? And, if He does not, why does He will particularly' that some men be damned? The theological origin of the 'general will' was important to Rousseau himself. He uses the language of divinity bequeathed to him by Pascal, Malebranche, Fenelon, and others to dignify, to elevate, and to 'save' politics.Originally published in 1986.The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest printondemand technology to again make available previously outofprint books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905. From Library Journal This book chronicles the transformation of the idea of the 'general will' from its theological roots in St. Paul and Augustine to its emergence as a purely political concept. Rousseau, it argues, gave the longestablished Christian idea of the general will of God to save all men a permanently secular meaning by placing the common good of the community above the particular will of the individual. Focusing on the century between the death of Pascal, the first great writer on general will, and the publication of The Social Contract , the book brilliantly illustrates the evolution of this idea as the older religious worldview gradually gave way. An important work of intellectual history, highly recommended for academic libraries. Raymond Frey, Philosophy and Religion Dept., Montclair State Coll., Upper Montclair, N.J.Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. Review 'This is a remarkable booka learned, lucid, and original study of the gradual transformation of a concept that derives much of its force from its until now forgotten origins. No one has ever told this story before.'Judith N. Shklar, Harvard University From the Inside Flap 'This is a remarkable booka learned, lucid, and original study of the gradual transformation of a concept that derives much of its force from its until now forgotten origins. No one has ever told this story before.'Judith N. Shklar, Harvard University From the Back Cover 'This is a remarkable booka learned, lucid, and original study of the gradual transformation of a concept that derives much of its force from its until now forgotten origins. No one has ever told this story before.'Judith N. Shklar, Harvard University