NextPrevious

Nineteenth Century Philosophy

Bernard Bosanquet

What were Bernard Bosanquet’s main ideas concerning social philosophy?

Humans, said Bosanquet, can only achieve their individual goals within communities. Both individually and collectively, we all wish for those things that produce harmony where once there were conflicting desires. On a community level, this is the general will. Being ruled by the general will results in liberty. The general will is the foundation of the modern state that has as its aim the actualization of what is best for all of its citizens.