Helvétius

Claude Adrien Helvétius was a French philosopher and man of letters. Born in Paris in 1715, he came from a wealthy family and received a good education. He initially pursued a career in finance, becoming a fermier général, a tax collector, which provided him with considerable wealth. However, his true passion lay in philosophy and intellectual pursuits.

Helvétius's most famous work, "De l'esprit" (On the Mind), published in 1758, caused a significant scandal. In it, he argued that human abilities and intelligence are entirely the product of education and environment, rejecting the idea of innate talent or divine influence. He also proposed that all human actions are motivated by self-interest, a concept he termed "égoïsme." The book was condemned by the Catholic Church and the French authorities, leading to its public burning and Helvétius's brief exile.

Despite the controversy, Helvétius continued to write and refine his ideas. He is considered an important figure in the Enlightenment, influencing later thinkers with his emphasis on empiricism, utilitarianism, and the potential for societal improvement through education and reform. His belief in the malleability of human nature and the power of external factors laid groundwork for later psychological and sociological theories. Helvétius died in 1771, leaving behind a legacy of challenging conventional thought and advocating for a more rational and secular understanding of humanity.