DESCARTES (René). DISCOURS de la Methode Pour Bien Conduire sa Raison, & Chercher la Verité dans les Sciences. A ...

DESCARTES (René). DISCOURS de la Methode Pour Bien Conduire sa Raison, & Chercher la Verité dans les Sciences. A Leyde. 1637.
DESCARTES (René)
DISCOURS de la Methode Pour Bien Conduire sa Raison, & Chercher la Verité dans les Sciences. Plus La Dioptrique. Les Meteores. et la Geometris qui sont des essais de cete Methode. A Leyde: De l' Imprimerie de Ian Maire, 1637.

a-k, A-Z, Aa-Zz, Aaa-Kkk4; 78, [2] , 414, [34] pp.: il.; 215 mm. Contemporary full vellum; some water atains and restored worm holes on margins; manuscript annotations on margins.

FIRST EDITION of one of the most important and fundamental texts in Western culture. The work is composed of three essays - Dioptrics, Meteorology and Geometry -, prefaced by the text that makes up the famous "Discourse on Method" and is one of the first modern philosophical texts not written in Latin, "so that all who had common sense, including women, could read his work and learn to think for themselves." [cf. Britannica] Before the publication of his Discourse on Method, Descartes had planned to publish a Treatise on the World and Light, but, due to Galileo's condemnation in 1633, he stopped publication. Four years later his Discourse on Method was released, the anonymity of which is likely to be related to Galileo's conviction. The work is profusely illustrated in the text of the three essays, some of which are full-page engravings. Very rare and very important document.

¶ Britannica, Watson, Richard A.. "René Descartes". Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rene-Descartes. Accessed 12 September 2023.