Who among the following wrote the famous text 'A Discourse on Political Economy'?
- A.Montesquieu
- B.Voltaire
- C.Rousseau
- D.Adam Smith
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is C, Rousseau. Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote the Discourse on Political Economy in 1755, first as the article "Economy" for Diderot's Encyclopédie.
In it Rousseau separates the government of a family from the government of a state and introduces the idea of the "general will", the common good of the whole people, which a legitimate government must follow. He developed the idea further in The Social Contract (1762), which opens with the line "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains" and inspired the French Revolution.
A is wrong because Montesquieu wrote The Spirit of the Laws (1748), which proposed the separation of powers.
B is wrong because Voltaire is known for the satire Candide and for his attacks on religious intolerance.
D is wrong because Adam Smith wrote The Wealth of Nations (1776), the founding text of classical economics.
Exam tip: Rousseau = general will and The Social Contract; Montesquieu = separation of powers; Adam Smith = Wealth of Nations.
Practice Questions
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