Malebranch's Search After Truth. Or, a Treatise of the Nature of the Mind, and of its Management for avoiding Error in the Sciences. To which is Added, The Author's Defence against the Accusations of Monsieur de la Ville. Also The Life of Father Malebranch, of the Oratory at Paris: With an Account of his Works, and several particulars of his Controversie with Monsieur Arnaud Dr. of Sorbonne, and Monsieur Regis, Professor in Philosophy at Paris. Written by Monsieur Le Vasseur, lately come over from Paris.

MALEBRANCHE, Nicolas (1638-1715), [SAULT, Richard, translator].

London: Printed for J. Dunton and S. Manship, 1694 and 1695. [Philosophy and Theology] FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH. Complete in two volumes. Octavo (19 x 12cm), pp.[32] 224; 229-244; 241-271 [1]; 95 [1]; 96 [2]; pp.[16] 104; 129-312; 353-488; 737-820; [2] 23 [5]. Complete continuous text, despite the wild pagination. Contemporary panelled and speckled calf, with raised bands and gilt titles to brown title labels on spine. All edges speckled red. Illustrated bookplate of E. Fitz-Gerald to front pastedown of volume I and rear pastedown of volume II. Black ink ownership of John Brown to title page of each volume, dated 1788. Top corner of fly-leaf to volume I lost. A section from the lower corner of p.271 in volume I also lost, not affecting text. A crisp, clean copy internally. Spines worn and cracked; joints split, but still just about holding. Chipping to head and tail caps, with an old small tail repair to volume II. Moderate wear and bumping to boards. Good overall. Originally published in French as 'De la recherche de la vérité, où l'on traite de la Nature de l'Esprit de l'homme, et de l'usage qu'il en doit faire pour éviter l'erreur dans les Sciences' (1674-75), and rapidly enlarged in response to criticism, Malebranche takes the Socratic position that we can never fully understand a universe created by an unintelligible God, but also attempts to link St Augustine and Descartes by proposing a distinction between truths known directly in the Mind, and those understood through the body. Item #59437

Price: £495.00