What key concept was central to the thinking of Enlightenment philosophers like Rousseau and Locke?

The social contract and the rights of individuals are indeed central concepts in the philosophy of Enlightenment thinkers such as Rousseau and Locke. Both philosophers contributed significantly to the development of political theory during the Enlightenment period.

Locke's theory of the social contract posits that government is a mutual agreement between the governed and the rulers, emphasizing that a government’s primary responsibility is to safeguard the natural rights of its citizens, including life, liberty, and property. If a government fails to protect these rights, the people have the justification to alter or abolish that government.

Rousseau also discusses the social contract but from a different perspective. He believed that individuals must come together to form a collective "general will" that represents the common good, emphasizing that individual rights are intertwined with the community. For Rousseau, true freedom comes not from individualistic pursuit but from participation in a collective social order that respects and enhances individual freedoms.

Both philosophers reject the ideas of absolute monarchy and the divine right of kings, which are reflected in options referring to tradition and the supremacy of the church, focusing instead on individual rights and government accountability that stem from social contracts among citizens. This emphasis on individual rights and the role of collective agreement marks a key departure from prior political theories