Nothing can exist in a natural state which can be called good or bad by common assent, since every man who is in natural state consults only his own advantage, and determines what is good or bad according to his own fancy and insofar as he has regard for his own advantage alone, and holds himself responsible to no one save himself by any law; and therefore sin cannot be conceived in a natural state, but only a civil state, which is decreed by common consent what is good or bad, and each one holds himself responsible to the state.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the passage given above?

Option (a) is correct: That the conceptions of what is right or wrong exist due to the formation of a state. is justified from the lines, “sin cannot be conceived in a natural state, but only a civil state, which is decreed by common consent what is good or bad, and each one holds himself responsible to the state.”

Option (b) is incorrect. The author, in the lines, “sin cannot be conceived in a natural state, but only a civil state, which is decreed by common consent what is good or bad, and each one holds himself responsible to the state”, refers to a state, which is civil, and not necessarily a “ruling authority” per se.

Option (c) is incorrect: The passage does strongly hint towards the fact that man is inherently selfish per se, but it does not refer to him being immoral.

Option (d) is incorrect: The passage mentions that “every man who is in natural state consults only his advantage and determines what is good or bad according to his fancy and insofar as he has regard for his advantage alone and holds himself responsible to no one save himself by any law”. However, it does not connect this trait to survival. S/he connects it to the concept of sin and a civil state.