‎(VAUVENARGUES, L. DE CLAPIERS, MARQUIS DE.)‎
‎Introduction à la connoissance de l'Ésprit Humain, suivi de Reflexions et de Maximes.‎

‎A Paris, Chez Antoine-Claude Briasson, 1746. (20), 384, (2, errata) pp. 8vo. Contemporary blind paper covers, loss of paper to spine, cords visible, an uncut copy. En Français dans le Texte, 149; Conlon 46:842; Cabeen 2649; Cioranescu 62969; Schosler, p. 180. First edition. Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues (1715-1747), French moralist and epigrammatist, born at Aix-en-Provence. Vauvenargues is notable for his incisive insights and formulations, principally in regard to character and moral ideas. He was a deist and not a Christian; but, believing religion necessary to social order, he opposed the propaganda of the philosophes. His philosophy, however, was secular in spirit, concerned with the problem of human nature and of what men should be and how they should live. Like other thinkers of his time, he justified the passions. Although Vauvenarques was not interested in political philosophy, he did argue against the notion that men are, or may be naturally, politically or socially equal: 'Law cannot make men equal in spite of nature'. Hierachy, in all respects, is inevitable. The present work includes his famous Réflexions et Maximes. - Half-title and last leaf pasted to the inside of the covers, pages 305-end with stain in lower outer blank margin. A mediocre copy, but with the errata which are often lacking. ‎

Reference : 18510

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