state of nature Flashcards
what is the state of nature?
Philosophical experiment to imagine what life would be like in a place with no law or order.
which theorists spoke about SoN and how?
Locke – Positive about the natural state
Hobbes- Negative about the natural state
Rousseau – somewhere in the middle, including elements of both.
what example is given for SON
The Desert island
what did Hobbes say about the state of nature?
‘natural condition of man’
•‘solitary, poor, brutish and short’
•‘war as is of every man against every man’ : ‘Bellum ominium contra omnes’
•Competition
•Distrust
•Glory
•‘live in continual fear of violent death’
what did Locke say about SoN
Men are free to order their actions, dispose of their possessions and persons as they see fit within the bounds of nature’
•Reason
•‘Life, Liberty and Property
Rousseau view on SoN:•Conflicts with Hobbes
Is closer to Locke as he believes in a prevailing sense of morality
•His morality is not individualistic but communitarian in nature
•Disagrees with the basic concept of the state of nature
Hobbes view on why would people agree to form a state with regulation?
continual fear of violent death’
Natural Rights come before Natural Laws
You have a right to these things but they will have no way of being guaranteed
The main aim is to create order
locked view on why would people agree to form a state with regulation?
Natural Laws derived from god come first and from this we get natural rights
The idea of law is to enforce God’s natural laws
Morality exists already
Property will be inadequately protected and so the job of law is to protect this, as well as secure liberty and life.
Rousseau view on why would people agree to form a state with regulation?
Individuals are selfish and their own desires will override the collective interest
•Law enforces what is good for society as a whole
