Which statement best explains the similarities between the philosophies of john locke and jean jacques rousseau? a. both philosophers believed in social contracts between freely formed governments and their citizens. b. locke and rousseau believed that monarchies were the only stable forms of government. c. locke and rousseau shared the opinion that the separation of powers in government would take away the liberty of citizens. d. both philosophers, unlike sir robert filmer, believed that only governments formed with the consent of the people should enjoy “divine rights.”

A) Both philosophers believed in social contracts between freely formed governments and their citizens.

D) Both philosophers, unlike Sir Robert Filmer, believed that only governments formed with the consent of the people should enjoy “divine rights.

Explanation:

”Both of these political scientists talked about the social contract but Rousseau concluded that the social contract was not a willing agreement. He believed that it is a fraud against the people committed by the rich. In 1762, Rousseau published his own most important work on political theory, The Social Contract. Enlightenment philosophers John Locke, Charles Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau all developed their own theories of government in which some or even all the people would govern.

The correct  A. Both philosophers believed in social contracts between freely formed governments and their citizens.

Further detail/context:

Both English philosophers believed there is a "social contract" -- that governments are formed by the will of the people.  But their theories on why people want to live under governments were very different.

Thomas Hobbes published his political theory in Leviathan  in 1651, following the chaos and destruction of the English Civil War.  He saw human beings as naturally suspicious of one another, in competition with each other, and acted with evil and violence toward one another as a result.  Forming a government meant giving up personal liberty, but gaining security against what would otherwise be a situation of every person at war with every other person.

John Locke published his Two Treatises on Civil Government in 1690, following the mostly peaceful transition of government power that was the Glorious Revolution in England.  Locke believed people are born as blank slates--with no preexisting knowledge or moral leanings.  Experience then guides them to the knowledge and the best form of life, and they choose to form governments to make life and society better.

As far as Locke's view on "divine right" of governments, that implies that God has given the ruler his authority.   Locke repudiated the views of divine right monarchy in his First Treatise on Civil Government.  In his Second Treatise on Civil Government, Locke then argued for the rights of the people to create their own governments according to their own desires and for the sake of protecting their own life, liberty, and property.