L’Esprit (On the Mind)

La Haye: Chez Pierre Moetjens. First Dutch Pirate Edition. Hardcover. Very good +. [HELVÉTIUS, Claude-Adrien] L’Esprit (On the Mind), Chez Pierre Moetjens, A La Haye (The Hague; Provins, Michelin) 1759. Vol I = half title-page + TP + [i] - viii = Preface + (1) - (34) = Lettre au R.P. Berthier + blank leaf + [1] - 244; Vol II = half title-page + TP + [1] - 209 + half title-page + TP + [1] - 166 + i - x = Table Sommaire Discours I & II + i - xi = Table Sommaire Discours III + i - iv = Table Sommaire Discours IV, 12mo, FIRST DUTCH PIRATED EDITION.This magnum opus of modern thought is considered the founding work of modern Utilitarianism, as it is here that Helvétius articulates the greatest happiness principle ("the greatest happiness for the greatest number") for the first time and becomes the first to define social welfare upon this utilitarian maxim, directly influencing Bentham and Mill.The materialistic philosophy of Helvétius' "De l'Esprit" also directly influenced Karl Marx, who had studied the work while in Paris and called the ideas presented in it "the social basis of communism"."De l'Esprit" arguably constitutes the greatest "succès de scandale" of Western thought and one of the most influential works of Western philosophy.Helvètius continued the work of Condillac by reducing all human understanding to sensation or sense- perception. He then took this reductionist psychology and erected a utilitarian theory of morality based upon it – making him “one of the chief pioneers and promoters of utilitarian moral theory” (Copelston, VI, 1, p. 51). Helvètius was a strong defender of the benefits of education and also extremely political – attacking all forms of despotism and, in particular, French despotism. CONDITION: Very Good+ in full brown leather with with gilt titles and raised bands present to the spine. Boards have light wear present to the extremities of the boards, especially corners. No ownership marks present. Text is clean and free of marks. Binding tight and solid. A gorgeous copy of a pirated edition of one of the major works of the Radical Enlightenment.

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