Louis XIV, John Locke and Barack Obama

Louis XIV, the Sun King, was born on 5 September 1638. He died in 1715 after having ruled France for 72 years. Why should we care about a French king who died 300 years ago? He left behind him a country whose borders had been expanded to make France secure from invasion. He encouraged the arts - Moliere, Racine, Lully, Le Nôtre and many others - and founded the Academie Francaise and helped Moliere with the Comedie Francaise, the oldest national theatre. Both exist still. He quelled an early revolt of his aristocracy who opposed his ending their feudal rights - many of the revolt leaders were members of his own family, the house of Bourbon - by building the spectacular Versailles and forcing them to serve him by living there. It is the opinion of most historians that Louis XIV created the modern French state. Louis XIV has also received immense praise. The anti-Bourbon Napoleon described him not only as "a great king," but also as "the only King of France worthy of the name." Leibniz, the German Protestant philosopher, commended him as "one of the greatest kings that ever was." And Lord Acton admired him as "by far the ablest man who was born in modern times on the steps of a throne." Finally, Voltaire also dubbed his reign "an eternally memorable age," calling it " le Grand Siècle" (the "Great Century"). Louis XIV developed to its apex the theory of the divine right of kings. ~~~~~ John Locke, who was born in 1632 and died in 1704, was an almost identical contemporary of Louis XIV. Without the birthright of le Grand Louis, John Locke nevertheless made an impact on the world that was perhaps greater and more fundamental. Locke's political theory was founded on social contract theory. He believed that human nature is characterised by reason and tolerance and that human nature allowed men to be selfish. This is apparent with the introduction of currency. In a natural state all people were equal and independent, and everyone had a natural right to defend his “Life, health, Liberty, or Possessions." Most scholars trace the phrase " life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," in the American Declaration of Independence, to Locke's theory of rights and individual liberty and responsibility. ~~~~~ It is said that Louis on his deathbed advised his heir with these words : "Do not follow the bad example which I have set you; I have often undertaken war too lightly and have sustained it for vanity. Do not imitate me, but be a peaceful prince, and may you apply yourself principally to the alleviation of the burdens of your subjects." He was right. So was John Locke. Today, Think about this, dear readers, as we watch the debacle of an American President who mouths the Constitution and clings to it as a talisman without understanding either its words or its vision of the perfectibility of mankind - or the great efforts of human minds and hearts such as Loius XIV and John Locke who moved humanity along its path to full civilization.