Why did Thomas Hobbes believe life in the state of nature would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short?

Thomas Hobbes argued that life in the state of nature would be "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" because it is a condition of constant, violent competition—a "war of all against all"—lacking any higher authority to enforce order or justice.12

Hobbes based this conclusion on several premises regarding human nature and the absence of civil society:

• Self-Interest and Competition: Humans are naturally driven by self-interest, vanity, and the desire for glory or wealth. In the absence of a sovereign, individuals possess a natural right to everything, leading to inevitable conflict as they compete for limited resources.1324
• Lack of Security: Because there is no common power to adjudicate disputes or enforce agreements, individuals live in perpetual fear and mistrust of one another. Even moderate individuals are forced to engage in preemptive aggression to ensure their own survival against the "ruthless and bloodthirsty few".24
• Absence of Industry and Culture: In this state of anarchy, there is no place for commerce, industry, or culture, as the constant threat of violent death prevents the development of stable social or economic life.12

Ultimately, Hobbes viewed this state as an unsustainable, rational nightmare that individuals must escape by entering into a social contract to transfer their power to an absolute sovereign, or Leviathan, who can guarantee peace and security.152