The state of nature is a state of war, because human beings have natural desires and act on their own self-interest. The unlimited freedom gives people right to kill, steal, lie, etc. Unless, everyone has to come to an agreement that people will continue living in fears. Therefore, rational human being must enter in Social Contract in exchange of peace. Establishing rules to obey the contract and some punish to pursuit for breaking the rule. The government is an individual or group of individuals with enough power to enforce the contract. The establishment of the government consist that everyone has to submit themselves and no longer act in their self –interest. Therefore act only to enforce the law. It is immoral broken the contract.
This idea of self-interest basically can not exist because I could commit a serious infamy from my natural desire and self-interest to act. In which that my action implies doing what is right for me only. In order to applied this theory of living together as a rational human being in the state of nature I have to give up my unlimited rights and must enter to a social contract. That is Hobbe’s theory.
November 21, 2007 at 5:20 am
I like how you mention there is a set of enforcers. I left that out of my summary of the social contract. I did mention we give our rights to the enforcer but forgot how important it is to have a powerful team of people to follow through with set guidelines…