Jean Bodin
Definition
Jean Bodin was a French jurist and political philosopher during the 16th century. He is best known for his theory on sovereignty which states that power should be undivided and absolute within a state.
Analogy
Jean Bodin is like the director of a movie. He believed that there should be one person (the sovereign) who has complete control over the production (the state), just as a director has final say on all aspects of a film.
Related terms
Sovereignty: The supreme authority within a territory, an idea heavily promoted by Bodin.
Absolutism: A political doctrine and practice where unlimited, centralised authority is vested in a monarch or dictator, similar to Bodin's theory on sovereignty.
Political Philosophy: The study of fundamental questions about the government, politics, liberty, justice etc. Jean Bodin was a significant figure in this field during his time.
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