Question
Speaker 1: The will of the people is what is best for society. Speaker 2: People exchange some of their individual freedoms for protection by the government. Speaker 3: Governments should be divided into branches that are separate but equal. Speaker 4: Governments derive their powers from the consent of the people. Which speaker would Jean-Jacques Rousseau most likely agree with? A. Speaker 3 B. Speaker 4 C. Speaker 2 D. Speaker 1
Answer
4.3
(225 Votes)
Carys
Professional · Tutor for 6 years
Answer
D
Explanation
This question is related to the political philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau is known for his work on the social contract and democratic theory. He believed that the best form of government is one that is directly based on the general will of the people. Rousseau argued that the legitimacy of a government comes from its alignment with the general will, and that sovereignty should be in the hands of the people. Speaker 1's statement, "The will of the people is what is best for society," closely reflects Rousseau's idea of the general will being paramount. Rousseau did not emphasize the division of government into branches as Speaker 3 suggests, nor did he focus on the exchange of freedoms for protection as Speaker 2 does. While Speaker 4's statement that "Governments derive their powers from the consent of the people" is somewhat aligned with Rousseau's thoughts, it does not capture the essence of his belief in the general will as the fundamental guiding principle.Therefore, Jean-Jacques Rousseau would most likely agree with Speaker 1, who emphasizes the will of the people as the best for society, which is a core concept in Rousseau's philosophy.