De Consensu Veteris et Novae Philosophiae
Paris: Carolum Savreux, 1663. Hardcover. Jean-Baptiste Du Hamel, Duhamel or du Hamel (1624 – 1706) was a French cleric and natural philosopher of the late seventeenth century, and the first secretary of the Academie Royale des Sciences. As its first secretary, he influenced the initial work of the Académie, but his legacy and influence on the Académie and the growth of science in France is mixed. It is Du Hamel's scholarly work, both in his analysis of the competing philosophies of the ancient and new science, as well as his role in disseminating the values and beliefs of the Académie to students and scholars that prove to be the most influential on the history of the science in France. Among his several books is this treatise in Latin on natural philosophy that compares Greek and scholastic theories with those of Descartes. A scarce work that is quite uncommon in commerce or at auction. Bound in brown leather with five raised bands to spine with gilt titling and ornaments to the compartments. Leather is soiled and faded, with bumping to corners, a crack to front joint, and chipping to spine. Some offsetting to pastedowns and free endpapers. Bookplate from Liechtenstein. Text pages have browning and occasional spots but still quite legible. With a green ribbon bookmark that opens to an illustration that accompanies a section on the development of the Cartesian system. A nice copy of this classic of natural philosophy in about very good condition. Measures 7.25 x 9.25 inches. 280 pages. PHIL/090123. Very Good. More