The writings of which of the following thinkers are believed to have inspired the revolutionaries during the French Revolution in the late 18th century ?
(A) Rousseau
(B) Voltaire
(C) Martin Heidegger
(D) John Stuart Mill
Choose the correct answer from the code below.
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Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) Only (A) and (B)

Explanation:
• The French Revolution (1789–1799) was deeply influenced by the ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire, both Enlightenment philosophers.
• Rousseau emphasized popular sovereignty and social equality through his work “The Social Contract” (1762).
• Voltaire advocated freedom of speech, religious tolerance, and rational thinking against the absolute monarchy and Church dominance.

Information Booster:
• The Enlightenment thinkers promoted liberty, equality, and fraternity, which became the Revolution’s guiding ideals.
• Montesquieu’s “The Spirit of Laws” also influenced the separation of powers in modern governments.
• The Revolution ended feudal privileges and inspired future democratic movements worldwide.
• Rousseau’s idea of the “general will” shaped the foundation of modern democracy.
• Voltaire’s writings encouraged the questioning of traditional authority and the pursuit of reason.

Additional Knowledge:
• Martin Heidegger – 20th-century German philosopher known for existentialism, not related to the French Revolution.
• John Stuart Mill – 19th-century English thinker who advocated liberalism and utilitarianism much later.
• Rousseau and Voltaire – Central figures of the Age of Enlightenment, directly shaping revolutionary thought.