Questions: What did Jean-Jacques Rousseau emphasize in his contributions to Enlightenment philosophy?
the idea that people are born evil
the inherent goodness of humans
the necessity of absolute monarchy
Transcript text: What did Jean-Jacques Rousseau emphasize in his contributions to Enlightenment philosophy?
the idea that people are born evil
the inherent goodness of humans
the necessity of absolute monarchy
Solution
Answer
The answer is the inherent goodness of humans.
Explanation
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a prominent philosopher during the Enlightenment who emphasized the inherent goodness of humans. He believed that people are born good and that society and its institutions often corrupt this natural goodness. This idea is central to his work "The Social Contract" and "Emile, or On Education," where he discusses how society can be structured to preserve and nurture this innate goodness.
Option 1: The idea that people are born evil
Rousseau did not support the notion that people are born evil. In fact, he argued against this idea, which was more aligned with the views of philosophers like Thomas Hobbes, who believed in the natural brutishness of humans.
Option 2: The inherent goodness of humans
Rousseau's philosophy is best known for advocating the inherent goodness of humans. He believed that humans are naturally good and that it is the influence of society that leads to moral corruption.
Option 3: The necessity of absolute monarchy
Rousseau did not advocate for the necessity of absolute monarchy. Instead, he proposed a form of government based on the general will of the people, which is more aligned with democratic principles. His ideas were in contrast to those of philosophers like Thomas Hobbes, who supported strong centralized authority.