Some cases of parasynonym beetween imperare and iubere

Abstract

Imperare and iubere may come out the same in translation, but the fact that both verbs exist raises the question of the extent to which they are indeed synonymous. Exhaustiveness being impossible, we focus on common usages in the main fields of social life: political decision-making (populus imperat / iubet), psychology (amor imperat / iubet) and philosophy (natura imperat / iubet). A certain consistency emerges in the case of imperare, expressing authority deriving from a hierarchic superiority which is not shared but expects obedience, being founded on deep forces, whether principles or passions. The use of iubere is more complex: it may be a question of authority, but to a lesser degree, and will apply for example to particular provisions of lex rather than to the underlying legal principle itself. This will that such and such should happen may be obliged to compromise with other forces (populus iubet, senatus decernit) or to make its own way, and is rather a matter of incentive. These differences are well documented but not, of course, systematic.