Jean Bodin : 'this pre-eminent man of France' : an intellectual biography

This book presents the only rounded treatment of a key figure in the intellectual history of France and Europe. Jean Bodin (1529/30–1596), jurist, associate of kings and courtiers, and participant in key political events, was the author of works of lasting interest and enduring significance in the fields of political science, historical writing, witchcraft, and a great deal else besides. Best known for his contribution to formulating the modern doctrine of sovereignty, Bodin has also been credited with developing the quantity theory of money and with advocating religious toleration at a decidedly unpropitious time. Yet, while certain aspects of his thought have long attracted and continue to receive a great deal of lively attention, no attempt has been made until now to approach this challenging thinker on a broad front, to consider __all__ his writings, major and minor, and to examine his ideas contextually and in the round. That is precisely what is offered in this deeply researched and wide-ranging study. Deploying a multilingual array of source materials, it devotes particular attention to Bodin’s own use of sources and modes of discourse in the course of analysing each of his works in turn and in considerable detail. And, beyond Bodin himself and his writings, the book sheds far-reaching light on the intellectual world of the late Renaissance writ large—a dynamic environment shaped through the interaction of multiple traditions of thought. In this intellectual biography, Howell A. Lloyd presents the first rounded treatment of influential sixteenth-century French thinker, Jean Bodin, examining his life and times, his writings (major and minor), and his ideas in their contemporary context, as well as in that of broader intellectual traditions. Jean Bodin was a figure of great importance in European intellectual history, known as a jurist, associate of kings and courtiers in sixteenth-century France, and author of influential works in the fields of constitutional and social thought, historical writing, witchcraft, and a great deal else besides. Best known for his contribution to formulating the modern doctrine of sovereignty, Bodin was a scholar of exceptional range, whose works provoked controversy in his own time and have continued to do so down the centuries. Hugh Trevor-Roper described him as 'the Aristotle, the Montesquieu of the sixteenth century, the prophet of comparative history, of political theory, of the philosophy of law, of the quantitative theory of money, and of so much else' Jean Bodin Was A Figure Of Great Importance In European Intellectual History, Known As A Jurist, Associate Of Kings And Courtiers In Sixteenth-century France, And Author Of Influential Works In The Fields Of Constitutional And Social Thought, Historical Writing, Witchcraft, And A Great Deal Else Besides. Best Known For His Contribution To Formulating The Modern Doctrine Of Sovereignty, Bodin Was A Scholar Of Exceptional Range, Whose Works Provoked Controversy In His Own Time And Have Continued To Do So Down The Centuries. Hugh Trevor-roper Described Him As 'the Aristotle, The Montesquieu Of The Sixteenth Century, The Prophet Of Comparative History, Of Political Theory, Of The Philosophy Of Law, Of The Quantitative Theory Of Money, And Of So Much Else'. Angers -- Educational Pursuits -- Humanist Engagements -- Law And History -- Getting And Spending -- République -- Estates And Demons -- Propositum Meum Retardarunt -- Vita Contemplativa -- Coda: Colloquium -- Conclusion. Howell A. Lloyd. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 265-298) And Index. Jean Bodin was a figure of great importance in European intellectual history, known as a jurist, associate of kings and courtiers in sixteenth-century France, and author of influential works in the fields of constitutional and social thought, historical writing, witchcraft, and a great deal else besides. Best known for his contribution to formulating the modern doctrine of sovereignty, Bodin was a scholar of exceptional range, whose works provoked controversy in his own time and have continued to do so down the centuries. Hugh Trevor-Roper described him as'the Aristotle, the Montesquieu of the sixteenth century, the prophet of comparative history, of political theory, of the philosophy of law, of the quantitative theory of money, and of so much else'. Much has been written on Bodin and his ideas, but in this new intellectual biography, Howell A. Lloyd presents the first rounded treatment of the thinker and his times, his writings (major and minor), and his ideas in their contemporary context, as well as in that of broader intellectual traditions. Jean Bodin was a figure of great importance in European intellectual history, known as a jurist, associate of kings and courtiers in sixteenth-century France, and author of influential works in the fields of constitutional and social thought, historical writing, witchcraft, and a great deal else besides. Best known for his contribution to formulating the modern doctrine of sovereignty, Bodin was a scholar of exceptional range, whose works provoked controversy in his own time and have continued to do so down the centuries. Hugh Trevor-Roper described him as "the Aristotle, the Montesquieu of the sixteenth century, the prophet of comparative history, of political theory, of the philosophy of law, of the quantitative theory of money, and of so much else". Much has been written on Bodin and his ideas, but in this new intellectual biography, Howell A. Lloyd presents the first rounded treatment of the thinker and his times, his writings (major and minor), and his ideas in their contemporary context, as well as in the broader intellectual tradition. In this new intellectual biography, Howell A. Lloyd presents the first rounded treatment of influential sixteenth-century French thinker, Jean Bodin, examining his life and times, his writings (major and minor), and his ideas in their contemporary context, as well as in that of broader intellectual traditions.