Rousseau on Government Making of Law Given the general will, how then law is made This question distinct from asking how it is executed Making laws requires the people as a whole making rule for the people as a whole The generality of general will. unconcerned with particular objects no particular names Two perspectives on same body. People making laws, laws enforced on people law cannot be unjust for you cannot be unjust to yourself Lawgiver invents machine of state prince sets it up, operates it Once properly started, continues by itself until decline, or breakdown Lawgiver changes human nature he transforms individuals Moses and Mohammed are Rousseau's examples of lawgivers Role of Religion People do what they ought to do when rules are presented as God's commands Relation to paternalism Religion gets people to do what is in their interest, which otherwise they might not see as such Reason is merely external to most people The law they obey is something they accept without understanding why