What does Rousseau mean by the "general will"?

Rousseau meant by the general will that there is an inner aim in all human beings to a form existence which is common to all of them.

Explanation:

Rousseau was a primitive theorist in the sense that he believed that humans could have a peaceful coexistence if they went back to their old primate lifestyles and left the root of all evils behind with the society.

In this age of innocence, he believed there can not be any evil in any person who lives in this primate world.

This was part of his concept of the general will that all the people in the world possess this will to go back to that primitive life and lead a life of innocence.