The first and most important deduction from the principles we have so far laid down is that the general will alone can direct the State according to the object for which it was instituted, i.e. the common good:
most important
(最も重要な)
[形]
of the greatest significance or value
deduction
(導き出される)
[名]
the action of deducting or subtracting something
common good
(共通善)
[名]
the good of all people in a community
これまでに定めた原則から導き出される最初の、そして最も重要なことは、一般意志だけが国家をその目的、すなわち共通善に従って導くことができるということである。
for if the clashing of particular interests made the establishment of societies necessary, the agreement of these very interests made it possible.
clashing
(衝突)
[名]
a conflict or disagreement
establishment
(設立)
[名]
the act of establishing something
agreement
(合意)
[名]
the act of agreeing or of coming to a mutual understanding
なぜなら、もし個々の利益の衝突が社会の設立を必要としたのであれば、まさにこれらの利益の合意がそれを可能にしたからである。
The common element in these different interests is what forms the social tie;
element
(要素)
[名]
a basic part or characteristic of something
これらの異なる利益の共通要素が社会的な結びつきを形成する。
and, were there no point of agreement between them all, no society could exist.
そして、それらの間に合意点がなければ、社会は存在し得ない。
It is solely on the basis of this common interest that every society should be governed.
solely
(のみ)
[副]
only
basis
(基づいて)
[名]
the foundation or ground upon which something stands or is supported
govern
(統治される)
[動]
conduct the policy, actions, and affairs of (a state, organization, or people) with authority
すべての社会は、この共通の利益に基づいてのみ統治されるべきである。
I hold then that Sovereignty, being nothing less than the exercise of the general will, can never be alienated, and that the Sovereign, who is no less than a collective being, cannot be represented except by himself: the power indeed may be transmitted, but not the will.
hold
(考える)
[動]
have as a belief or opinion
alienate
(譲渡する)
[動]
transfer ownership of
represent
(代表する)
[動]
act on behalf of
transmit
(伝達する)
[動]
cause to pass from one place or person to another
だから私は、主権は一般意志の行使に他ならないから、決して譲渡することはできないし、集団的存在に他ならない主権者は、自分自身以外に代表されることはできないと考えます。権力は確かに伝達されるかもしれないが、意志は伝達されない。
In reality, if it is not impossible for a particular will to agree on some point with the general will, it is at least impossible for the agreement to be lasting and constant;
in reality
(現実には)
[副]
in fact; actually
particular will
(特定の意志)
[名]
the will of an individual
agree
(合意する)
[動]
have the same opinion about something
lasting
(永続的)
[形]
continuing for a long time
constant
(一定)
[形]
non-varying; unchanging
現実には、特定の意志が一般意志とある点で合意することが不可能ではないとしても、少なくとも合意が永続的で一定であることは不可能である。
for the particular will tends, by its very nature, to partiality, while the general will tends to equality.
tend
(傾向がある)
[動]
be inclined or disposed
partiality
(偏り)
[名]
a bias in favor of one thing or person compared with another
general
(一般の)
[形]
involving or affecting the whole of a class or group
equality
(平等)
[名]
the state of being equal
なぜなら、特定の意志はその性質上、偏りを持つ傾向があるのに対し、一般意志は平等に向かう傾向があるからである。
It is even more impossible to have any guarantee of this agreement;
この合意の保証を得ることはさらに不可能である。
for even if it should always exist, it would be the effect not of art, but of chance.
art
(芸術)
[名]
the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotion...
chance
(偶然)
[名]
a possibility of something happening
なぜなら、それが常に存在するとしても、それは芸術ではなく偶然の効果であるからである。
The Sovereign may indeed say: “I now will actually what this man wills, or at least what he says he wills”; but it cannot say: “What he wills tomorrow, I too shall will” because it is absurd for the will to bind itself for the future, nor is it incumbent on any will to consent to anything that is not for the good of the being who wills.
future
(未来)
[名]
the time that is yet to come
consent
(同意する)
[動]
give permission for something to happen
good
(利益)
[名]
that which is morally right
主権者は確かにこう言うかもしれない。「私は今、この男が望むこと、あるいは少なくとも彼が望むと言っていることを実際に望んでいる」しかし、「彼が明日望むことは私も望む」とは言えない。なぜなら、意志が未来のために自分を縛るのは不条理であり、意志を持つ存在の利益にならないことに同意する義務はどの意志にもないからである。
If then the people promises simply to obey, by that very act it dissolves itself and loses what makes it a people;
promise
(約束する)
[動]
assure someone that one will or will not do something
simply
(ただ)
[副]
in a simple manner
by that very act
(その行為によって)
[副]
by that act itself
dissolve
(解散する)
[動]
(with reference to an assembly or organization) break up or cause to break up
だから、もし人民がただ従うことを約束するなら、その行為によって人民は解散し、人民であるものを失う。
the moment a master exists, there is no longer a Sovereign, and from that moment the body politic has ceased to exist.
主人が存在する瞬間、もはや主権者は存在せず、その瞬間から政治体は存在しなくなる。
This does not mean that the commands of the rulers cannot pass for general wills, so long as the Sovereign, being free to oppose them, offers no opposition.
command
(命令)
[名]
an authoritative order
pass
(通る)
[動]
be accepted as
so long as
(限り)
[接]
on condition that; provided that
be free to
(自由がある)
[動]
have the freedom to
oppose
(反対する)
[動]
be against
offer
(申し出る)
[動]
present for consideration, discussion, or use
これは、主権者が反対する自由がある限り、反対しない限り、支配者の命令が一般意志として通らないことを意味するものではない。
In such a case, universal silence is taken to imply the consent of the people.
in such a case
(そのような場合)
[副]
in a situation like this
universal
(普遍的な)
[形]
of, affecting, or done by all people or things in the world or in a particular group; general
silence
(沈黙)
[名]
complete absence of sound or noise
imply
(暗示する)
[動]
indicate or suggest without being explicitly stated
consent
(同意)
[名]
permission for something to happen or agreement to do something
そのような場合、普遍的な沈黙は人民の同意を暗示すると見なされる。
This will be explained later on.
これは後で説明する。