there is some general idea.

有一些普遍概念
Durkheim will call it collective conscience;

涂尔干称之为集体意识
Rousseau will call it the general will.

罗素则称为公意
Right? The very French idea that there is some consciousness

这种法国式的观念认为有一些意识
above the individual consciousnesses--

凌驾于个人意识之上
this has formulated so powerfully the first time by Montesquieu.

孟德斯鸠第一个将之完整而有力地表述出来
And he actually said as civilization is progressing,

实际上他说道随着文明的进步
the influence of the natural conditions declines,

自然环境的影响在减弱
and the importance of general spirits increases.

而普遍精神的重要性则在上升
Or to put it with Durkheim,

或者用涂尔干的话来说
the collective conscience becomes more and more important.

集体意识变得越来越重要
I'll just foreshadow,that you have a sense

我预感到你们会有一种感觉