Question

Read the hypothetical situation below and answer the question that follows. In response to criticisms that the King of Mordor has failed to gain the consent of his people, the King claims that he does in fact represent the consent of the people because without their King, society would crumble into chaos. Which statement BEST represents a rebuttal that Rousseau would use to counter the King’s argument? A. Absolute chaos is preferable to the absolute power of the King. B. The King of Mordor should establish a system of checks and balances. C. If the King of Mordor were to represent the will of his people, then he would at least provide the public services demanded by his people. D. It is impossible for the King of Mordor to have the consent of the people because the monarchy is not a freely formed government in which the people have a say in how it operates.

Answer 1

The correct answer is D.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) was one of the main phisolophers of the Enlightment ideas which spread in Europe and triggered upraisings against absolut monarchies and the old feudal regimes. The most famous of them all was, of course, the French Revolution in 1789.

In his book, The Social Contract, he appointed the importance of developing governments whose powers were granted from the will of their subjects, from all the citizens under its ruling, through suffrage. These ideas were clearly in opposition with the absolut monarchies that ruled most European countries at those times. Kings had all the power on their hands and had received it from God. This latter idea sharply contrast with the Enlighment phisolophy, opposite to dogmas and superstitions and that was claiming for the devopment of  reason and of the scientific method.

This is why Rosseau would claim for a different type of government in Mordor, without an authoritarian king and that, in turn, citizens should be given a say.

Answer 2

The answer is D. It is impossible for the King of Mordor to have the consent of the people because the monarchy is not a freely formed government in which the people have a say in how it operates.