Northern Europe, Scotland, Edinburgh, Scottish Enlightenment period, ca. 1779 to 1799 CE. An impressive collection of volumes 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 of the first edition of "Antient Metaphysics: or, the Science of Universals" by Lord James Burnett Monboddo (Scottish, 1714-1799). Though volumes 2 and 3 were published in London, volumes 1, 5, and 6 were published in Edinburgh during the Scottish Enlightenment. In these volumes he drew on ancient metaphysics to counter both the philosophy of David Hume and the physics of Isaac Newton. Volume 1 contains an examination of the principles of Sir Isaac Newton's philosophy with an appendix. Volume 2 presents a further examination of the principles of Sir Isaac Newton's astronomy. The third volume is comprised of the history and philosophy of men with a preface containing the history of ancient philosophy, both in ancient and later times, with 3 dissertations annexed. Size (all about the same): 8.5" L x 1.3" W x 10.8" H (21.6 cm x 3.3 cm x 27.4 cm)
Volume 5 includes the history of man in the civilized state, and lastly the sixth volume covers the subject of the being of god.
Lord James Burnett Monboddo was a Scottish judge, scholar of linguistic evolution, philosopher and deist. e is most famous today as a founder of modern comparative historical linguistics. In 1767 he became a judge in the Court of Session. As such, Burnett adopted an honorary title based on the name of his father's estate and family seat, Monboddo House. Monboddo was one of a number of scholars involved at the time in development of early concepts of biological evolution. Some historians credit "Antient Metaphysics" with anticipating in principle the idea of natural selection that Darwin subsequently developed.
Provenance: ex-Stein collection, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA, acquired prior to 2010
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#178365
Condition
Front covers detached from volumes 1 and 3. All have bending, staining, fraying, and tearing to covers and binding. Interior pages have some small areas of staining and foxing, as well as a few minor notations from previous owners. Otherwise, all are complete with nice preservation to printed text.