Final answer:
Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued that society and its institutions corrupt the natural goodness of human beings, particularly through the development of private property, competition, and social inequalities.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the natural goodness of human beings is corrupted by society and the institutions that arise with civilization. Rousseau believed that in a state of nature, humans are essentially good and compassionate. However, as society develops, inequalities arise, and the innate goodness of humanity is undermined by the emergence of private property, competition, social class, and the desire for personal gain at the expense of others. Rousseau outlines these ideas in his work, The Social Contract, where he discusses how governments should operate to protect the equality and character of its citizens, reducing income inequality, and promoting civic education to cultivate civic virtue.