Jean-Jacques Rousseau expressed these views in his 'Discourse on the Sciences and Arts'. He argued that the development of arts and sciences had corrupted human morality rather than improving it. Rousseau believed that civilization fostered vanity and inequality, distancing humanity from its natural state of simplicity, innocence, and authentic existence, which he considered far superior to the artificial complexities of modern society.

Rousseau's concept of the 'General Will' and popular sovereignty provided the intellectual foundation for the French Revolution. His ideas challenged the divine right of kings and argued that legitimate political authority resides in the people. While the date 1779 in the option is historically imprecise (the revolution began in 1789), it is the intended answer in this context.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born on June 28, 1712, in Geneva. His birth was a significant event in the history of Western philosophy, as he would go on to become one of the most influential thinkers of the Enlightenment, challenging contemporary social and political norms through his extensive body of work.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau is central to the concept of natural liberty. In his political philosophy, he argues that humans are born free and that natural liberty is the unrestricted right to everything that tempts an individual. He contrasts this with civil liberty, which is limited by the general will, suggesting that the transition from the state of nature to civil society requires a transformation of these natural impulses into moral freedom.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau posited that in the state of nature, humans possess 'pitié' (natural compassion or sympathy) alongside 'amour de soi' (self-love). He argued that these natural sentiments, when guided by reason and conscience, prevent the destructive egoism found in civil society. This view contrasts sharply with Hobbes, who viewed the state of nature as a war of all against all.

Rousseau distinguishes the 'General Will' from the 'will of all'. While the latter is a collection of individual, often selfish, interests, the General Will is permanent and directed toward the common interest. It represents the enduring moral consensus of the community, which remains constant even when individual opinions fluctuate.

Rousseau argued that in the original State of Nature, humans were not driven by complex reason or social morality. Instead, they were guided by two fundamental principles: 'amour de soi' (a natural love of self or self-preservation) and 'pitié' (a natural compassion for others). This state was characterized by simplicity and innocence, contrasting sharply with the corruption he believed civilization introduced.

Rousseau's concept of the 'General Will' shares structural similarities with Hobbes's 'Leviathan' regarding the indivisibility and absoluteness of sovereignty. Although Rousseau redirected sovereignty from a monarch to the collective body of citizens, he adopted the Hobbesian premise that sovereignty must be absolute and supreme to prevent social fragmentation. This influence is evident in his insistence that the sovereign power cannot be divided or limited by external authorities.

While Rousseau's work on the 'General Will' influenced democratic thought, he is often distinguished from the classical liberal tradition due to his emphasis on collective sovereignty over individualistic liberal rights. Thinkers like Mill, Kant, and Green are central to the development of liberal ethics, focusing on individual autonomy and moral development within a free society.

This famous opening line from Jean-Jacques Rousseau's 'The Social Contract' highlights his critique of contemporary society. Rousseau argues that while humans are naturally free, the development of civilization and political institutions has created artificial constraints and inequalities. He seeks to reconcile this natural freedom with the necessity of living within a structured society through the concept of the General Will.