Bodin represents and encapsulates Thomist political theory of the late Middle Ages in Europe. He is best known for his writings on sovereignty, which contributed to the absolutist authority of French kings (as Louis XIV). But his identification of absolute political power with the state ruler does not preclude the distribution of social influence in different groups. So, while Bodin says that the monarchy has absolute sovereignty or power to make or overrule any law, the monarchy exists within a "commonweal" of society, different classes and interests. The wise and good ruler respects the common good and representatives of other orders (estates, corporations, colleges, and the church). After Aristotle, Bodin acknowledges different forms of government (monarchy, aristocracy, polity) and their corruption (tyranny, oligarchy, democracy) and insists that a "just" government of any form can be popular in serving the common good. A king has great authority but is limited by divine law and God. An awesome responsibility rests on rulers because abuse of power produces fear, hatred, dissension, and destruction. The chief end of the commonwealth, exemplified by the governors, should be religious piety, justice, valor, honor, virtue, and goodness. Suspicious of the common peoples' greed and vanity, Bodin opposed democratic government. Humans, as St. Thomas Aquinas asserted, are between the beasts and the angels and only reach goodness through careful education and moral development. After Plato, he saw the commonwealth reflecting human nature with "understanding"--the highest virtue--followed by reason, the anger desiring power and revenge, and--the lowest--brutish desire and lust. If the higher faculties do not rule the lower instincts, chaos ensues.

A devout and mystical Christian, Bodin viewed this world within a larger cosmic context of spiritual beings and warfare. A wholesome society must be aware of dark, demonic spirits who are opposed to Christ. Bodin's last published work dealt with witchcraft and its effect on politics and society. Although the government should take care that the economic needs of its people are satisfied, this should be followed by concern for their ethical and religious needs, as the Commonwealth's ultimate goal is to bring people to "divine contemplation of the fairest and most excellent object that can be thought or imagined" [Christ]. A conservative French Catholic, Bodin nev rtheless encouraged tolerance for French Protestant Christians and opposed King Henry III's persecution of the Huguenots.

Bodin is recognized as a brilliant, eclectic political thinker. He studied widely in law, history, mathematics, metaphysical philosophy, several languages, and astronomy before entering French political and religious life. His major work, The Six Books of a Commonweal (1576), influenced Western political thought for 200 years after its publication. His idea that humans are part of a "great chain of being" who are connected to all other beings in the universe contributed to modern (e.g., Madisonian) notions of balancing different elements and groups through moderation and checks and balances.

Free term papers are not written to satisfy your specific instructions. You can use our professional writing services to buy a custom written research paper, term paper, or essay on Philosophy at affordable price. CustomTermPapers is the best solution for those who seek help in writing term papers, essays, and research papers related to Philosophy and other relevant topics.