For a College of Humanistic Studies in Renaissance Toulouse

The Early Oratio de Instituenda in Republica Juventute by Jean Bodin

Abstract

In 1559 Jean Bodin, in front of the city parliament, pleads the project to establish in Toulouse a college of humanistic studies financed with public money and open also to students of humble origin. Bodin underlines advantages which would derive by the college for the study of law, social life and economy too. More than in his later works, here Bodin concentrates on education, defending a public college for arts, because a public school, accessible to youths from all social classes, might contribute to control tensions between different faiths, and thus to the rise of civilization, well-being, and religious peace. Bodin therefore compares home and private education to public education, explaining that the latter favors the birth of friendship between young people differents for wealth, birth and confessions. Friendship is more necessary than ever in France because it appeared by that time on the verge of falling into religious wars.