Locke And Hobbes State Of Nature Essay

The state of nature is a theory used in moral and political philosophy, belief, social contract theories and universal law in order to specify the estimated circumstances regarding what humanity was like before societies came into existence. Locke and Hobbes were both social contract theorists and shared a similarity of both being interested in natural law. Natural law theorists anticipated that under natures circumstances, man was measured as a social animal. However, Hobbes differed from the usual social law theorists due to his individual thought and independent conclusions. Locke and Hobbes are both well known political philosophers. They have both developed writings which have impacted the formation of modern political thought. In addition, they both insinuate to a state of nature where man exists without government and the dangers of a state …show more content…
Hobbes discusses states of nature in theory, whereas Locke demonstrates examples of where they actually exist. Hobbes’ Locke’s state of nature both consists of the dangers of a state of nature. Both of these philosophers refer to men as being equal in this state. Hobbes states that “nature hath made men so equal in the faculties of mind and body…. the difference between man and man is not so considerable” (Wootton, 158). Locke defines nature as a “state of perfect equality, where naturally there is no superiority or jurisdiction of one over another” (Wootton, 288). Hobbes believes that the entire time that man is in a state of nature, he is in a state of war. He states that “if any two men cannot enjoy the same thing, they become enemies and in the way to their end…. endeavor to destroy or subdue one another” (Wootton, 158). Locke fears that within the “law of nature,” society may implement decisions, therefore resulting to a state of war. Although these two men have similarities, Locke and Hobbes’ state of nature also differ from one