BERKELEY, GeorgeBiblio.com
Alciphron: or the Minute Philosopher.
1732170650London: Printed by J. Tonson 1732. The idealist philosopher's most substantial work First edition of Berkeley's defence of traditional Anglicanism against the nascent secularism of the early Enlightenment: a major work of 18th-century Christian apologetics. Alciphron is a critical source for Berkeley's wider philosophy of language. Berkeley 1685-1753 defends the Theist position that the world is dependent on an interventionist God providing religious knowledge through miracles and divine revelation. Enlightenment thinkers increasingly argued that a non-interventionist deity had created the universe to operate autonomously on machine-like principles and laws. In such a scenario the miracles and revelations of an interventionist God were of little use as a source of religious knowledge which was possible only through rational reflection. In challenging these ideas Berkeley collectively represents their chief exponents Locke Mandeville and the third Earl of Shaftesbury as the conceited free thinkers Alciphron and Lysicles. Volume II includes a revised edition of Berkeley's An Essay towards a New Theory of Vision first published in 1709 with a new title page and continuous register. In the Advertisement Berkeley notes that his earlier work is included as an addendum to the fourth dialogue which concerns the function of the senses in deriving knowledge of God. 2 vols octavo 194 x 120 mm. Wood engraving to title pages of both vols. Contemporary panelled calf neatly rebacked and recornered spines ruled and lettered in gilt raised bands edges sprinkled red. 18th-century signature of "William McGuire" to title page of vol. II. Light rubbing cosmetic splits to inner hinges minor browning and foxing to endpapers and edges loss to upper outer corner of title page vol. I small hole in F8 vol. I: a very good copy. Jessop 121a; Keynes 15. hardcover
Peter Harrington · Royaume-Uni1 250,00 £GB≈ 1 427,25 €
