‎BAYLE, P.‎
‎Pensées diverses Écrites à un Docteur de Sorbonne, A l'occasion de la Comète qui parut au mois de décembre 1680. Quatrième éditon. A Rotterdam, Chez Reinier Leers, 1704. 2 volumes. - (Followed by:) BAYLE, P. Continuation des Pensées diverses Ecrites à un Docteur de Sorbonne, à l'occasion de la Comete qui parut au mois de Decembre 1680 ou Reponse à plusieurs difficultez que Monsieur *** a proposées à l'Auteur.‎

‎A Rotterdam, Chez Reinier Leers, 1705. 2 volumes. Together 4 volumes. (30), 312 pp.; (2), 315-530, (8), 531-616, (18) pp.; (30), 360 pp.; (2), 363-802, (32) pp. 8vo. Contemporary polished calf, spines richly gilt in compartments, red morocco labels with gilt lettering. Mori, p. 348, 350 and 351; Delvolve 6, 29 and 33; Sauvy, 1021. Fourth edition of the first work (first published in 1681), second edition of the second work (first published in 1704). The first work (second volume, pp. 531-616) includes the Addition aux Pensées diverses sur les Comètes ou Réponse à un libelle intitulé: Courte Revue des maximes de morale et des principes de religion de l'Auteur des Pensées diverses sur les Comètes &c., Pour servir d'instruction aux juges ecclésiastiques qui en voudraient connaitre, which was first published in 1694. The appearance of a comet in December 1680 and the belief that the appearance of comets signaled evil and disaster gave Bayle the opportunity to continue his attack on superstition, on intolerance, on poor philosophy and history: he proved that there had been comets without disasters and that there had been disasters without the previous appearance of comets. Moreover, Bayle argues, miracles are against all reason. 'There is nothing more consonant with God's infinite greatness than His maintenance of the laws which He Himself established; there could be nothing more unworthy than to imagine Him intervening to interrupt their regular operation' (Paul Hazard, The European Mind, 1680-1715, p. 188). In the Continuation, published in August 1704, Bayle resumed and further explored the themes from his Pensées diverses. He notably develops a comparative analysis of atheism and idolatry and tries to demonstrate the preference of the former. He also gives a minute criticism of the proof for divine existence that certain authors thought to infer from universal human consensus (see Labrousse, i, p. 253-4). Bayle's conclusion towards an atheistic rationalism 'marque sans doute le plus profond -et le plus délicat- des analyses philosophiques de Bayle' (Mori, Bayle Philosophe, pp. 140-146). - The last two volumes with some browning throughout and a few marginal spots. Very good copies. ‎

Reference : 23170

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