Which Enlightenment philosopher argued for natural rights and influenced modern liberal political theory?

• A. John Locke
• B. Voltaire
• C. Montesquieu
• D. Rousseau

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how natural rights underpin liberal political theory. John Locke argued that people are born with inherent rights—life, liberty, and property—that predate any government. Governments exist to protect those rights, and they gain legitimacy from the consent of the governed. If rulers violate those rights or fail to protect them, the people have a right to resist or dissolve the government. This view places limits on political power and emphasizes individual rights and consent, which are central to modern liberalism and constitutional government.

Voltaire’s contributions center on civil liberties and religious tolerance, but not a formal doctrine of natural rights and government legitimacy. Montesquieu is known for the idea of separating powers to prevent tyranny, rather than defining natural rights themselves. Rousseau focuses on the general will and popular sovereignty as the basis of political legitimacy, rather than natural rights as inherent protections. Locke’s emphasis on natural rights and government by consent is what most directly shaped liberal political theory and later constitutional frameworks.