What were the laws of nature in Thomas Hobbes’s philosophy?

In Thomas Hobbes’s philosophy, the "laws of nature" are not covenants or moral laws in the traditional sense, but rather rational principles derived from the fundamental human drive for self-preservation. Because humans are naturally self-interested and live in a state of nature characterized by a "war of every man against every man," these laws serve as a guide for rational individuals to escape that dangerous condition.123

The first and most fundamental law of nature is that every person should seek peace as far as they have hope of obtaining it; when peace is not attainable, they may use all the advantages of war to protect themselves.2

Key aspects of these laws include:
* Rationality: They are dictates of reason that identify the conditions necessary for survival.12
* Compliance: Outside of a civil state, these laws cannot be safely followed because there is no authority to enforce them, and individuals may feel forced to act aggressively to ensure their own survival.32
* Transition to Civil Society: To satisfy the law of nature, individuals must enter into a social contract, transferring their right of self-governance to a sovereign who can enforce peace and security.342