Which French philosopher believed humans are naturally good and free and that government should protect the common good in a democracy?

• A. Voltaire
• B. Montesquieu
• C. Descartes
• D. Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is the view that people are naturally good and free, and that political authority should be based on protecting the common good within a democratic framework. Jean-Jacques Rousseau argues that humans in their natural state are virtuous and autonomous; society and its inequalities corrupt this natural goodness. Through the social contract, people collectively submit to a government that expresses the general will, which aims at the common good. In this view, sovereignty rests with the people, and true freedom comes from obeying laws that one has helped to enact—laws that reflect the general will and protect everyone’s liberty. So, a democracy that truly serves the common good aligns with Rousseau’s idea of legitimate authority derived from the people and oriented toward the public welfare.

Voltaire is more associated with reason, civil liberties, and tolerance; Montesquieu emphasizes separation of powers and constitutional design; Descartes centers on doubt and rational method. While these thinkers contribute to political thought, they do not articulate the specific combination of natural human goodness, freedom, and government structuring around the general will for the common good that Rousseau is known for.