Meditationes de Prima Philosophia (Meditations on First Philosophy) DESCARTES, Rene Philosophy & Religions

Second Elzevir Edition of Descartes "Meditations" Published Just Four Years After His Death DESCARTES, René. Meditationes de Prima Philosophia (Meditations on First Philosophy), Ludovicum Elzevirium, Amstelodami [Amsterdam], 1654. 2 blank leaves + TP + [i] - [v] = Epistola + [vi]-[viii] = Praefatio ad Lectorem + [ix]-[x] = Contenta + 1-191 + TP [Appendix, Continens Objectiones Quintas & Septimasin Renati Des-Cartes Meditationes de Prima Philosophia] + 3 - 164. + TP [Epistola Renati Des Cartes ad celeberrimum virum D. Gisbertum Voetium] + 3 - 88. Quarto. Second Elzevir Edition.$ 3,500The first edition of Descartes Meditations was published in Paris in 1641 presenting the most detailed explanation of his metaphysical system. The six meditations follow Descartes as he categorically doubts everything he knows and then tries to discover a method whereby he can establish what, if anything, can be known with certainty. This book along with the earlier presentation (Discours, 1637) of roughly the same ideas, was the foundational moment in Modern Philosophy and a seismic event in the history of Western ideas. This Second Elzevir (Fifth Latin) edition also includes the 164-page further Response to Gassendi s objection along with a later refutation of a Seventh Set of Objections that had been sent to Descartes by the Jesuit, Pierre Bourdin primarily attacking his method of doubt as well as a letter addressed to the Jesuit, Father Dinet revisiting and rebutting the accusations that had formerly been made against Descartes by his virulent Dutch enemy, Voetius. The book concludes with the 88 page "Letter to the Very Famous Man, Mr. Gisbert Voetius" where Descartes defends his philosophy. CONDITION: Very good or better in original full vellum. Spine with soiling and remnants of labels (library?). Covers lightly soiled with yapped edges. Pages crisp and clean and free of markings.