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280 - SPINOZA (Baruch). Opera Posthuma [including Ethics].
See original version (French)

Estimate €6,000 - €8,000

Description

SPINOZA (Baruch). Opera Posthuma [including Ethics]. One of the most important collections of modern Western philosophy. [Amsterdam], [J. Rieuwertz], 1677. In-4 (220x170mm), full brown calf, spine with 5 raised bands, decorated with small gilt irons and fleurons (contemporary binding). 2ff. - 18ff. preface - 1f. - 614pp. - 16ff. table - 1f. - 112pp. - 4ff. index - 1f. ; some woodcuts in the text. Very good restorations to corners, spines and headpieces, tiny worm hole under the central nerve, headband renewed, leather cracked, some foxing but inside fresh. This posthumous first edition, printed in the same year as the philosopher's death, contains 5 of Spinoza's most important works, published for the first time and organised as follows: I. Ethica (Ethics) / II. Politica (Politics) / III. De Emendatione Intellectûs (Treatise on the Reform of the Understanding) / IV. Epistolæ, & ad eas Responsiones (Letters and Replies) / V. Compendium Grammatices Linguæ Hebrææ (Precise grammar of the Hebrew language). - The Ethics, which opens the volume after an important preface, was written in Latin between 1661 and 1675. It is published here in its original edition. It is divided into 5 chapters: I. De Deo (On God) / II. De Naturâ & Origine Mentis (On the nature and origin of the mind) / III. De Origine & Naturâ Affectuum (On the nature and origin of the passions) / IV. De Servitute Humanâ, seu de Affectuum Viribus (On the Slavery of Man or the Power of the Passions) / V. De Potentia Intellectus, seu de Libertate Humanâ (On the Power of Understanding, or the Freedom of Man). There are a few figures printed in the text, illustrating processes through simple geometric figures. - This is followed by the 'Tractatus Politicus', in which Spinoza sets out his theory of natural law and the social contract. It is subtitled - in Latin - "in which it is explained how a society, whether monarchical or aristocratic, should be organised so that it does not degenerate into tyranny and the peace and freedom of the citizens are not impaired." He also develops precepts on how best to organise a state according to three regimes: monarchical, aristocratic or democratic. The work was not completed and was interrupted by the description of the democratic regime. - This is followed by the "Tractatus de Intellectus Emendatione", written - unfinished - between 1665 and 1670. It is important for anyone wishing to understand the evolution of Spinoza's thought on intelligence, perception, experience and memory, as well as the foundations of his theory of knowledge. Spinoza sets out from the outset what constitutes the credo of all his philosophical works: he wants to differentiate between true and false goods, goals such as wisdom that bring us real satisfaction from those that bring us only ephemeral and illusory joy, such as the pursuit of wealth, reputation and pleasure. Ethics itself will be no more than an extension of this project. - This is followed by the "Epistolæ Doctorum Quorundam Virorum ad B. d. S. et Auctoris Responsiones, Ad aliorum ejus Operum elucidationem non parium facientes", i.e. "Letters from certain Doctors to Spinoza and replies from the author, shedding unequal light on his other works". There are 74 of these letters, some of which are illustrated with woodcuts in the text. - The "Compendium Grammatices Linguæ Hebrææ", which closes the collection, is little known. It deals mainly with the phonology and morphology, particularly verbal, of Biblical Hebrew. The section on syntax, announced by Spinoza, has been lost. Largely inspired by the work of earlier grammarians, including Johannes Buxtorf, this text above all reveals Spinoza's unfamiliarity with the medieval Jewish grammatical tradition and the Hebrew of the rabbis. Long neglected by Spinozist critics because of its arduous and technical nature, this text is now inseparable from the rest of Spinoza's work and helps us to understand the philosopher's relationship with the Scriptures and their language, one of the central subjects in the rest of his work, and in particular in the Theological-Political Treatise. Although posthumous, this edition is probably the most important of all the philosopher's works. It was printed anonymously, with the initials B. d. S. for "Benedictus de Spinoza". Provenance : - Pierre-Charles Delasize (ex-libris "Bibliothèque de M. Delasize); judge at the court of Rouen. His extensive library was sold in 1846.

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About the sale Prestige sale - Antiquarian and collectible books

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Auction time 06/15/2026 at 2:00 PM

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280 - SPINOZA (Baruch). Opera Posthuma [including Ethics]. See original version (French)

280 - SPINOZA (Baruch). Opera Posthuma [including Ethics].
See original version (French)