Jean-Jacques Rousseau was an influential philosopher during the Enlightenment era. He is best known for his ideas about social contract and general will, which greatly influenced political thought and inspired many revolutions.
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Social Contract Theory: This is a philosophical concept that suggests people live together in society according to an agreement that establishes moral and political rules of behavior. It's like agreeing to play by certain rules when you join a sports team.
Enlightenment: A period in European history when reason was advocated as the primary source of authority and legitimacy. It's like switching from following traditional methods to using scientific methods in problem-solving.
General Will: This term refers to the collective desire or interest of a people as a whole. Imagine if all your friends had to agree on one movie to watch - that agreed-upon choice would represent the 'general will'.