Final answer:
The state of nature refers to the human condition before the establishment of government and the notion is central to the political theory of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau.
Step-by-step explanation:
The state of nature is a concept in political philosophy used to describe the condition of humanity before the establishment of government and laws.
The answer to the multiple-choice question regarding the state of nature is 'e. Both B and C', meaning the state of nature refers to both b) the condition before a government exists and c) a key concept in the political thought of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau.
These philosophers had diverse opinions about the state of nature, but they agreed that in such a state, individuals had natural rights such as life, liberty, and property, and that a social contract was necessary for the establishment of government to protect these rights.
Natural rights are fundamental rights that individuals possess inherently, and the social contract is a theory that individuals consent, either explicitly or tacitly, to surrender some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of a ruler or to the decision of a majority in exchange for the protection of their remaining rights.
In today's society, these concepts are embodied in the form of constitutions, legal systems, and democratic institutions that protect individual rights and liberties. Political conflict, the status quo, and various decision-making processes can be interpreted through the lens of social contract and natural rights theory.
Humans are generally seen as having the freedom to choose their own paths in life, but this freedom coexists with societal and legal constraints that are in place to maintain social order and protect the rights of others.
When humans make decisions, they must consider both personal freedom and the ramifications their actions may have within the social contract they are a part of.