What is the state of nature?

The state of nature is a hypothetical situation were there is no government, law, policy- any form of political authority. Each philosopher has there own interpretation of what that the state of nature would look like- this is mainly determined by how they saw human nature.

There are two principle conceptions of the state of nature: a negative one (Hobbs) and a positive one (Locke).

Hobbs, saw the state of nature as the war of ‘all against all’. With out a state to control people- humanity would constantly fight each other (because we are only self interested).

Locke on the other hand thought that there would be cooperation in the state of nature because he saw people still being ‘governed’ by natural rights. These are God given and so exist even with out the state.