Hobbes' State of Nature

Hobbes was an English political philosopher who lived during the civil war.

He claimed that the State of Nature (SoN) would be a "war of all against all".

He said there are 4 premisses that would cause problems in the SoN.

1. Everyone is a rational egoist (reason effectively & be selfish) ---> Can't guarantee your continued existence as there is no trust of others.
2. Human desires are never ending ---> Everyone is equal to satisfy desires so the SoN is a state of equality in the concept of power/strength.
3. Humans desire power ---> This would cause a Fight For Glory where everyone would try and prove they are the strongest and scariest by killing and fighting everyone else.
4. Humans have a natural right to self-preservation ---> This would cause violence to be permissible  in life and death situations and scarcity so they won't starve.

His conclusion:

Human psychology + conditions of SoN = constant state of war

Life would be "..solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short".

• Solitary - Isolated from not trusting anyone
• Poor - No jobs/long-term projects/industries/income without a state
• Nasty & brutish - Violent
• Short - Short lives (killing and illnesses)