J.J. Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was an influential 18th-century philosopher whose ideas helped shape modern political and social thought. He believed that humans are naturally good but corrupted by society and institutions. Rousseau emphasized the importance of freedom, equality, and the social contract—an agreement among people to form a fair and just society. His work influenced revolutions and ideas about democracy, education, and individual rights, highlighting that a true society values the general will—what’s best for all its members—over individual interests.