Who among the following is the author of the book, The Social Contract?
- A.Voltaire
- B.Hobbes
- C.Locke
- D.Rousseau
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is D, Rousseau. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the Geneva-born philosopher, published The Social Contract (Du contrat social) in 1762.
The book opens with the famous line 'Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.' Rousseau argued that a legitimate state rests on the 'general will' of the people, who are sovereign, and that laws are valid only when they express that common will. His ideas of popular sovereignty and equality inspired the leaders of the French Revolution of 1789. He also wrote Emile, a book on education, and the Discourse on Inequality.
A is wrong because Voltaire, the French satirist, is known for Candide and his defence of free speech. B is wrong because Thomas Hobbes wrote Leviathan (1651), a social contract theory that favoured an absolute ruler. C is wrong because John Locke wrote Two Treatises of Government, which stressed natural rights to life, liberty and property.
Exam tip: Hobbes, Leviathan; Locke, Two Treatises; Rousseau, The Social Contract; Montesquieu, The Spirit of Laws.
Practice Questions
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Read the full explanation →The book “The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection” was authored by
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- B.Carolus Linnaeus
- C.Barbara McClintock
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Read the full explanation →Al-Biruni's Kitab-ul-Hind was written in which language?
- A.Arabic
- B.Persian
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Read the full explanation →Who among the following is the author of the famous novel, City of Joy?
- A.Larry Collins
- B.Dominique Lapierre
- C.Rudyard Kipling
- D.Mark Tully
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