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Jean Spitz, « L'éloge paradoxal de la politique des Anciens chez Helvétius », Dix-Huitième Siècle (documents), ID : 10.3406/dhs.2000.2367
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Helvétius's paradoxical praise for classical politics. Helvétius occupies a mid-way position in the, 18th-century debate between supporters and opponents of classical egalitarian republics ; although he recognises that they held virtue and liberty in high esteem and thus possessed a moral force that modern peoples have lost, he nevertheless tries to destroy their prestige by showing that the political model which they are still seen to represent is no longer valid for modern societies. For modern societies are highly unequal and are dominated by money ; thus the most important rewards are distributed by individuals instead of the people. Helvétius concludes that the new structure of society means that it is no longer virtue but deference that leads to the satisfaction of the citizens' interests.
