ABSTRACT
Spinoza uses the traditional language of the theorists of natural law, but what he says in that language subverts the tradition. He says, unequivocally, some rather shocking things: notably, that in the state of nature, right is identical with power, and that if the civil state did not exist, everything would be permitted. Hobbes says that the state of nature is a war of all against all, and that in this war, nothing can be unjust. Though covenants of mutual trust may generally be invalid in the state of nature, Hobbes' mature position seems to be that this is true because generally in the state of nature, there is a reasonable suspicion of nonperformance by the other party. Spinoza thinks that life in the state of nature would be quite wretched, and that one of its undesirable features is lack of security. But his emphasis is rather on economic disadvantages.
