In His Social Contract, and to the Consternation of French

In his Social Contract, and to the consternation of French radicals, Jean-Jacques Rousseau espoused the notion that humans _________.

A) had reverted to their "natural" state ever since civilization began and imposed its own external authority on them
B) had suffered no observable change from their "natural" state ever since civilization began and imposed its own external authority on them
C) had suffered a steady decline from their "natural" state ever since civilization began and imposed its own external authority on them
D) had enjoyed a steady rise from their "natural" state ever since civilization began and imposed its own external authority on them