Comparative Questions?

1. Saint-Simon’s indictment of Louis XIV’s personality (Document 18-4) raises the question of human fallibility. How do the political theories of Bossuet (Document 18-1) and Locke (Document 18-2), as presented in this chapter, deal with the question of human frailties? How does the element of fallibility strengthen or weaken their arguments?
2. The question of divinity is conspicuously absent in Locke’s excerpt (Document 18-2). How might Locke have interpreted Bossuet’s theologically based arguments about sovereignty (Document 18-1)? Is there room for religion in Locke’s state of nature?
3. In what ways do the texts in this chapter address political transformations away from the feudal system in the seventeenth century? How do the texts show the continuity between the old and new systems?
4. How would Bossuet and Locke (Documents 18-1 and 18-2) analyze Catherine II’s actions and policies? On what basis would they approve or disapprove of the decrees included here?
5. How are the ideas of John Locke reflected in the English Bill of Rights (Document 18-3)?