Which philosopher believed that human beings are naturally good and should rely on their instincts?

Jean-Jacques Rousseau is the philosopher who believed that human beings are inherently good and should trust their natural instincts. He argued that people are born pure and that society often corrupts this innate goodness through institutions and societal expectations. Rousseau contended that a return to a more natural state would allow individuals to live authentically and express their true selves. His ideas emphasized the importance of feeling and a connection to nature as crucial components of human life, distinguishing him from other thinkers who had a more pessimistic view of human nature. Rousseau’s views had a significant influence on political philosophy and later developments in Romanticism, advocating for a more innate understanding of human morals and virtues without the constraints imposed by civil society.