Describe the difference between state of nature and a social contract.

The state of nature is a concept used in political philosophy by most Enlightenment philosophers, such as Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. The state of nature is a representation of human existence prior to the existence of society understood in a more contemporary sense. The state of nature is a concept used in political philosophy by most Enlightenment philosophers, such as Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. The state of nature is a representation of human existence prior to the existence of society understood in a more contemporary sense

The source of differences between Hobbes' and Locke' social contracts is their differing conceptions of the state of nature. For Hobbes absolute freedom is all that individuals have in the state of nature.