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social science subjects > politics and international relations > political science > political concepts > state of nature
... > social science subjects > politics and international relations > political science > political theory > modern political thought > power and authority > state of nature
... > social science subjects > politics and international relations > political science > political theory > power and authority > state of nature
... > social science subjects > politics and international relations > political science > political theory > self and community > state of nature

Preferred term

state of nature  

Definition

  • The state of nature refers to a hypothesized natural human condition, before or outside political community. It is a standard feature of social contract theories, used in order to illustrate that which is distinctive and created about the state. [Source: Encyclopedia of Political Theory; State of Nature]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/state_of_nature

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