English philosopher Thomas Hobbes talks about how the Laws of Nature are the unwritten form of what becomes Civil Laws. Natural Laws are qualities which dispose man to peacefulness. But, what is Just and Right only become properly Laws once a common-wealth of humans is established. The ultimate goal of Laws are to limit the natural proclivities of individual people for the common good of all peoples and the defense against enemies.

“The Law of Nature, and the Civill Law, contain each other, and are of equall extent. For the Lawes of Nature, which consist in Equity, Justice, Gratitude, and other morall Vertues on these depending, in the condition of meer Nature are not Properly Lawes, but qualities that dispose men to peace, and to obedience. When a Common-wealth is once settled, then are they actually Lawes, and not before; as being then the commands of the Common-wealth; and therefore also Civill Lawes: For it is the Soveraign Power that obliges men to obey them. For in the differences of private men, to declare, what is Equity, what is Justice, and what is morall Vertue, and to make them binding, there is need of the Ordinances of Soveraign Power, and Punishments to be ordained for such as shall break them; which Ordinances are therefore part of the Civill Law. The Law of Nature therefore is a part of the Civill Law in all Common-wealths of the world. Reciprocally also, the Civill Law is a part of the Dictates of Nature. For Justice, that is to say, Performance of Covenent, and giving to every man his own, is a Dictate of the Law of Nature. But every subject in a Common-wealth, hath covenanted to obey the Civill Law. And therefore Obedience to the Civill Law is part also of the Law of Nature. Civill, and Naturall Law are not different kinds, but different parts of Law; whereof one part being written, is called Civill, the other unwritten, Naturall. But the Right of Nature, that is, the naturall Liberty of man, may be the Civill Law be abridged, & restrained: nay, the end of making Lawes, is no other, but such Restraint; without the which there cannot possibly be any Peace.

And Law was brought into the world for nothing else but to limit the naturall liberty of particular men, in such manner, as they might not hurt, but assist one another, and joyn together against a common enemy.”

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan. (314-315)

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English philosopher Thomas Hobbes was famously known for his authoritarian philosophy that praised the rights of Absolute Monarchs. Hobbes seems to suggest that Laws, despite limiting the freedoms of individual people, is ultimately for their own Good. Laws are only lawful if they can be enforced by a Sovereign. Hobbes says that nothing a Sovereign does can properly be called an injustice. Furthermore, any liberties individuals do have only exist because the Sovereign chooses to ignore such excesses.

“If we take Liberty, for an exemption from Lawes, it is absurd, for men to demand as they doe, that Liberty, by which all other men may be masters of their lives. And yet as absurd as it is, this is it they demand; not know that the Lawes are of no power to protect them, without a Sword in the hands of a man, or men, to cause those laws to be put in execution. The Liberty of a Subject, lyeth therefore only in those things, which in regulating their actions, the Soveraign hath praetermitted… The Soveraign Power of life, and death, is never abolished, or limited. For it has been already shewn, that nothing the Soveraign Representative can doe to a Subject, on what pretense soever, can properly be called Injustice, or Injury; because every Subject is Author of every act the Soveraign doth.”

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan. (264-265)

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For English philosopher Thomas Hobbes, prior to societies, humanity existed in a state of nature. In such a state, value judgments are meaningless. Hobbes states that such values as Justice, Injustice, Right, & Wrong only exist within society. These values are human creations made not in solitude but only in relation with other humans. Furthermore, the enforcement of these values as valuable can only occur through force and the fear of death.

“To this warre of every man against every man, this also is consequent; that nothing can be Unjust. The notions of Right & Wrong, Justice and Injustice have there no place. Where there is no common power, there is no law, where no law, no injustice. Force, and fraud, are in war the two cardinal virtues. Justice, and Injustice are none of the Faculties neither of the Body, nor Mind. If they were, they might be in man alone in the world, as well as his Senses, and Passions. They are Qualities, that relate to men in Society, not in Solitude. It is consequent also to the same condition, that there be no Propriety, no Dominion, no Mine & Thine distinct; but onely that to be every mans that he can get; and for so long, as he can keep it. And this much for the ill condition, which man by meer Nature is actually placed in; though with a possibility to come out of it, consisting partly in the Passions, partly in His Reason. The Passions that encline men to Peace, are Feare of Death; Desire of such things as are necessary to commodious living; and a Hope by their Industry to obtain them. And Reason suggesteth convenient Articles of Peace, upon which men may be drawn to agreement. These Articles, are they, which otherwise are called the Lawes of Nature.

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (188)

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