Which philosopher argued that government should be justified by consent of the governed and by protecting natural rights?

Which philosopher argued that government should be justified by consent of the governed and by protecting natural rights?

• A. Locke
• B. Hobbes
• C. Montesquieu
• D. Rousseau

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is that the authority of government rests on the consent of the governed and on protecting natural rights. John Locke argued that in the state of nature people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property. To safeguard these rights, people form a government through a social contract, granting it legitimate authority only as long as it protects those rights. When the government fails to do so or violates rights, the people retain the right to withdraw their consent and establish a new government. This view is foundational for liberal political theory and directly ties political legitimacy to both consent and the protection of natural rights. Hobbes emphasizes establishing order through a strong sovereign to prevent a life that is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short,” so his justification centers on security and absolute rule rather than protecting natural rights. Montesquieu focuses on how to design government—especially the separation of powers—to prevent tyranny, rather than grounding legitimacy in consent and natural rights. Rousseau highlights the general will and popular sovereignty, but his emphasis differs from Locke’s explicit protection of individual natural rights and the contractual basis for consent.

The idea being tested is that the authority of government rests on the consent of the governed and on protecting natural rights. John Locke argued that in the state of nature people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property. To safeguard these rights, people form a government through a social contract, granting it legitimate authority only as long as it protects those rights. When the government fails to do so or violates rights, the people retain the right to withdraw their consent and establish a new government. This view is foundational for liberal political theory and directly ties political legitimacy to both consent and the protection of natural rights.

Hobbes emphasizes establishing order through a strong sovereign to prevent a life that is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short,” so his justification centers on security and absolute rule rather than protecting natural rights. Montesquieu focuses on how to design government—especially the separation of powers—to prevent tyranny, rather than grounding legitimacy in consent and natural rights. Rousseau highlights the general will and popular sovereignty, but his emphasis differs from Locke’s explicit protection of individual natural rights and the contractual basis for consent.