Which philosopher is known for his criticism of absolute monarchy and the concept of the social contract?

The philosopher known for his criticism of absolute monarchy and his development of the social contract is indeed Rousseau. In his seminal work "The Social Contract," Rousseau argued that legitimate political authority relies on the consent of the governed, challenging the notion of absolute monarchies where rulers hold unchecked power. He believed that individuals enter into a social contract to form a collective will, which is fundamentally democratic in nature. His ideas emphasize freedom, equality, and civic responsibility, positing that a government must reflect the general will of the people.

While Hobbes discussed the social contract in his work "Leviathan," he defended a strong, centralized authority as necessary to prevent chaos and conflict in a natural state characterized by war of all against all. Locke also contributed important ideas regarding the social contract, advocating for the protection of individual rights and property but still supporting a system of governance that differed from Rousseau’s vision. Montesquieu focused more on the separation of powers and checks and balances to prevent tyranny rather than directly critiquing absolute monarchy within a social contract framework.