The author of "The Social Contract" was Jean-Jacques Rousseau, an influential Enlightenment philosopher. Published in 1762, the work explores the concept of political legitimacy and the relationship between individuals and the state. Rousseau argues that legitimate political authority relies on the consent of the governed and advocates for a social contract where individuals collectively agree to form a community. This idea had a significant influence on modern political thought, emphasizing democracy, individual rights, and the collective good, and it informed subsequent political movements and revolutions, including the French Revolution.