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Simple English definitions for legal terms
state of nature
Read a random definition: National Archives and Records Administration
A quick definition of state of nature:
The state of nature is a made-up idea of a time before people had organized governments. It's like a pretend world where there are no rules or leaders. Some people used to think that this time was really peaceful and happy, while others thought it was really scary and dangerous. But really, it just means a time before governments existed. People have always lived together in some way, but governments are a newer idea.
A more thorough explanation:
The state of nature refers to a time in human history before any type of organized political society existed. It is a fictional construct used to describe a lack of political organization.
Although human society has existed for as long as there have been humans, the state of nature is the absence of a society organized on the basis of physical force to constitute a state. It is not the absence of society altogether.
For example, imagine a group of people living on a deserted island without any form of government or laws. This would be considered a state of nature because there is no organized political society.
Another example could be a post-apocalyptic world where all forms of government have collapsed, and people are left to fend for themselves. This would also be considered a state of nature.
The state of nature is a useful concept for understanding the origins of political society and the role of government in society.