On the Concept of “the Republic” in François Hotman’s and Jean Bodin’s Works

Abstract

La République concept is prominently featured in the political discourse of the XVI century, and it often creates confusion among the researchers due to its complex etymology and to its interchangeable usage with the term Etat, which is a more common word nowadays. This paper investigates two authors whose dispute eventually led to the conceptualization of an idea of a modern state in France: François Hotman and Jean Bodin. The latter’s idea of la République being proper management of multiple households connotes as well the idea of community and the idea of common good. Bodin here relies on both Aristotle’s and Cicero’s traditions. Hotman, while speaking about government, notes the connection between the French idea of la République and the ideas of ancient philosophers. Thus we see one of the main characteristics of a modern state as well as its main distinction from what existed before: the sovereignty. Hotman notes among essential characteristics of la République the
people’s will. However, he specifically examines the concept of la souveraineté, while Bodin regards the people as a subject in the private sphere and as an object in the public sphere.