(Each principal premise is stated as a top-level list item and its justification is contained within its sub-points)

1. Man, by nature, exists in a condition of war.
   1. Man, being equal by nature, aspires to attain the same things.
   2. This results in conflict when men aspire to achieve the same object.
2. There never be any progress or industry in such a condition of war, nor can there be any security in such a time.
   1. The right of nature (jus naturale) provides each man the liberty to preserve his own life at any means. This liberty, extends to the right over the bodies of others.
3. Man should seek out peace, as long as he can hope to attain it. When peace cannot be obtained, he should seek out all advantages of war.
   1. The state of peace allows man to pursue his goals without the fear of conflict.
   2. On the other hand, peace cannot be obtained without the consent of others. In such a case, man is permitted to defend himself.
4. Man should be willing to divest his personal liberties when others are also so willing.
   1. This would permit peace.
5. This agreement must take the form of a covenant (or agreement).
6. If a covenant is made where both parties are to perform their duties at a future time, it is void in the natural condition of war.
   1. The one that performs their duty first has the reasonable suspicion against the other that they will not perform their duty.
      1. Mere words are not sufficient to contain the natural passions of man.
   2. Thus, to perform the covenant would be to injure oneself, and man cannot consent to a covenant that gives up the right to defend himself.
7. A covenant of mutual trust, thus, requires an external force to enforce the performance of contract.
   1. In the absence of such a force, covenants are but empty words and the condition of war remains.
   2. When such a force exists, contracts of mutual trust are valid, because then they do not amount to a renunciation of the one's right to defend himself.
      1. The party performing their duty first can be assured of the performance of the other party via this external force.
8. This covenant takes the form of mutual restraint of a people upon their natural liberty — to form a commonwealth.
9. This commonwealth cannot be formed by the mere performance of the laws of nature (justice, equity, etc) by people without a central power.
   1. A group too small is subject to attack by external powers and cannot hope to attain security.
   2. A large group cannot autonomously abide by the laws of nature via the very nature of man.
      1. Otherwise, we could expect all men to abide by these laws of nature without the existence of a commonwealth to begin with.
10. Thus, the covenant that forms the commonwealth must take the form of transferring power to a single person or a small assembly; and this covenant must be agreed by all persons constituting the commonwealth.
11. The constitution of this commonwealth allows the pursuit of peace and industry.
    1. The transfer to collective power of the commonwealth to the sovereign creates an unmatched authority
    2. It is this authority by which peace is generated.
       1. The collective power of the commonwealth allows for defense against external invaders.
       2. The fear of authority ensures the performance of covenant, by which man is able to lay claim to the fruits of his own labor.