Noblesse commerçante contre noblesse militaire Une querelle des Lumières (1756-1759)

Beyond the issue on the abolition of the Act of dérogeance (loss of priviliges by a member of the nobility exercising a profession below his status) the dispute about the aristocrats engaged in trade opposes two visions of society, one progressive, the other based on tradition. Adversarial pamphlets by Coyer and d'Arcq are the most representative of this debate.