We all hate the government, either cause we hate paying taxes or we get to many parking tickets, everybody at one time or another wishes we didn't have government at all. This brings to mind the question why do we have government? And what the world would be like without government, or in a State of Nature as it has come to be called. Although it is impossible to know for sure what society would be like without any form of government to enforce laws and rights. Many have speculated on what it would be like in such a world. But when pondering these theories one must realize they have been developed by men who live in a time with government, and these are mere interpretations with no real data or historical facts. The theories are based more on human nature, based on how people act in their day to day life these philosophers developed theories on how people would act if there were no government to control them.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) presented a rather pessimistic view of the State of Nature, he felt that people could not survive in a world without government. He believed that society would constantly be in a state of war, that people were not able to live together peaceful without a governing force to keep them in line. He once said that in the State of Nature there were "no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short." Hobbes said a strong government with a great deal of power that represented the people, was necessary to keep order. He also believed in egalitarianism .
John Locke's (1632-1704) view is one of a more civil society. He feels people can live together in peace and harmony, without any ruling authority to make sure they do so. Locke describes the State of Nature as "a state of perfect freedom; second a state of equality; and third, bound by a Law of Nature.
