What Is the State of Nature? What Assumptions Do Contractarians

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The Answer is The state of nature is a concept in political philosophy that refers to the hypothetical condition of human existence before the establishment of organized societies and governments. It is often used as a thought experiment to explore the origins of political authority and the social contract.

Contractarians, such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, typically make certain assumptions about the state of nature in order to support their theories of political authority and the social contract. These assumptions are important for contractarianism because they provide the foundation for understanding the need for a social contract and the legitimacy of political authority.

One common assumption made by contractarians about the state of nature is that it is a state of war or conflict. This assumption is important because it helps to justify the need for a social contract and the establishment of political authority to maintain peace and order. For example, Thomas Hobbes famously described the state of nature as a "war of all against all," where life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." This depiction of the state of nature serves as a justification for the necessity of a strong, centralized government to prevent chaos and violence.

Another assumption made by contractarians is that individuals in the state of nature have certain natural rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and property. This assumption is important because it forms the basis for the idea that individuals enter into a social contract to protect and preserve these rights. For example, John Locke argued that individuals in the state of nature have the right to property and that the purpose of government is to protect these property rights.

Overall, the assumptions that contractarians make about the state of nature are important for contractarianism because they provide the rationale for the need for a social contract and the legitimacy of political authority. By understanding the state of nature as a condition of conflict and the existence of natural rights, contractarians are able to make a compelling case for the establishment of organized societies and governments.

What Is the State of Nature? What Assumptions Do Contractarians

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