Helvétius, Claude-Adrien

Helvétius, Claude-Adrien
(1715-1771)
   philosopher
   An important thinker of the Enlightenment, Claude-Adrien Helvétius was born in Paris. in 1738, he was appointed farmer-general, a post that he held, along with other government appointments, due to the influence of his patron, Queen marie leszczynska, wife of King louis XV. Helvétius soon devoted himself to writing, collaborating on denis diderot's Encyclopédie and, in 1758, publishing his most famous work, De L'Esprit. in it, he asserted his theory of hedonism, sensualism, atheism, and philosophical materialism. He stated that all human faculties, including judgment, compassion, and memory, are merely attributes of physical sensation and that the only nature of human activity is self-interest. He posited that no true moral choice could exist, with even self-sacrifice only a choice among competitive pleasures. His writings were subsequently condemned by the Royal Council and the theological faculty of the sorbonne (1759) as affronts to public morals, and were publicly burned.

France. A reference guide from Renaissance to the Present . 1884.

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  • Helvétius, Claude-Adrien — born Jan. 26, 1715, Paris, France died Dec. 26, 1771, Voré, Collines des Perches French philosopher, controversialist, and patron of the philosophes. He is remembered for his hedonism, his criticism of the religious foundations of ethics, and his …   Universalium

  • Helvétius, Claude-Adrien — (1715–1771) One of the moving spirits behind the Encyclopédie, Helvétius defended a theory of human motivation founded on sensation: we are pushed to action solely by self interested love of pleasure and desire to avoid pain. He is principally… …   Philosophy dictionary

  • Helvétius, Claude-Adrien — See Enlightenment I (The French): science, materialism and determinism and Enlightenment II (The French): deism, morality and politics …   History of philosophy

  • Helvetius, Claude Adrien — ► (1715 71) Filósofo francés. Estuvo muy influido por Locke, la lectura del cual le entusiasmó ante la posibilidad de aplicar el empirismo a las cuestiones morales y políticas. Fue ateo en filosofía, y hedonista y utilitario en moral. Su obra… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Helvetius, Claude-Adrien — (26 ene. 1715, París, Francia–26 dic. 1771, Voré, Collines des Perches). Filósofo francés, polemista y protector de los filosófos. Es recordado por su hedonismo, sus críticas de los fundamentos religiosos de la ética y su teoría educativa. Su… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Claude Adrien Helvétius — (* 26. Februar 1715 in Paris; † 26. Dezember 1771 ebenda) war ein französischer Philosoph des Sensualismus und Materialismus der Aufklärung. Er war der Ehemann der Salonnière Ann …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Claude Adrien Helvétius — Full name Claude Adrien Helvétius Born January 26, 1715(1715 01 26) Paris, France Died …   Wikipedia

  • Claude-Adrien Helvetius — Claude Adrien Helvétius Pour les articles homonymes, voir Helvétius. Helvétius. Gravure d Augustin de Saint Aubin d après Michel van Loo …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Claude Adrien Helvétius — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Helvétius. Helvétius. Gravure d Augustin de Saint Aubin d après Michel van Loo …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Claude-Adrien Helvétius — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Helvétius. Claude Adrien Helvétius Philosophe Occidental Époque Contemporaine …   Wikipédia en Français

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