Well now, let me tell you about this fella named Bodin and his big ideas about politics. You see, Bodin believed that sovereignty, that’s a fancy word for who’s in charge, can’t be split up like a pie. No, sir! It’s gotta be in the hands of one person or a small group, like the village elders making all the big decisions. He argued real strong that if you try to share power too much, things just get messy, and nobody knows who’s really in charge. That’s like trying to get everyone in the family to agree on what to have for dinner – it ain’t gonna happen!

Now, back in the day, folks thought that having a mixed state, you know, with a bit of this and a bit of that, was the best way to run things. But Bodin came along and said, “No way, Jose!” He wanted people to see that his idea of a single sovereign power was the way to go. This here Polybian model, that’s what they called it, just wasn’t cutting it in Bodin’s eyes. He thought it was a political fairy tale, pretty much.
Now, let’s not forget about Bowdoin College. It’s a real fancy place, founded way back in 1794, in a town called Brunswick, Maine. They say it’s got top-notch education and all that, but we all know education ain’t just about books and grades; it’s about the folks you meet and the ideas you share. At Bowdoin, students are digging deep into politics and philosophy, just like Bodin did. They’re talking about big issues, like justice and ethics. It’s all tied together, you see.
There’s a fellow named Paul Franco who teaches over there at Bowdoin. He’s a professor of government, which is just a way of saying he knows a lot about how we run things in our communities and beyond. He’s been there a while and talks about the history of political philosophy. That’s just a fancy way to say he’s looking at what people have thought about politics over the years and how it all fits together.
Now, the folks at Bowdoin are asking some big questions, ones that get you thinking, like: What’s fair? What’s right? It’s kind of like when you’re trying to figure out if you should share your pie with your neighbor or keep it all for yourself. Those questions don’t have easy answers, and that’s what makes it all so interesting!
Some might say that Bowdoin has a bit of an issue with how they think about politics and philosophy. There’s talk that the way they teach it sometimes lacks a little something, maybe a connection to the real world. It’s like talking about farming without ever getting your hands dirty! Folks want to see the world as it is and not just in books.

- Bodin’s idea of sovereignty is simple yet powerful.
- Mixed states might sound good, but Bodin had other thoughts.
- Bowdoin College is a hub for deep thinking and learning.
- Professors like Franco are digging into history and theory.
- Big questions about justice and ethics keep coming up.
So, when you think about Bodin and Bowdoin, remember that they’re both tied up in the big ideas about how we live together and make decisions. It’s all about understanding who holds the power and how that shapes our lives. Just like in a good old-fashioned village, it’s about leadership, fairness, and making sure everyone’s got a say in what goes on. So, next time you bite into a piece of pie, think about who gets to share it with you!
Tags:[Bodin, Sovereignty, Political Philosophy, Bowdoin College, Justice, Ethics]