The state of nature is an idea which became especially popular with certain philosophers during the Enlightenment, notably Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), John Locke (1632-1704), and Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778). It refers to a state of existence before humans joined together to make formal societies when they gave up certain individual rights in favour of collective government by forming a social contract.
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Definition
Timeline
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1651Thomas Hobbes publishes his Leviathan.
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1689John Locke publishes his Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Two Treatises on Government, and Letters on Toleration.
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1755Jean-Jacques Rousseau publishes his Second Discourse.
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1762Jean-Jacques Rousseau publishes The Social Contract.
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1971John Rawls publishes his Theory of Justice.
