An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding.

lifetime edition with contemporary annotations for the fourth edition

The third edition of John Locke's (1632-1704) major philosophical work, an excellent lifetime example with contemporary annotations and notes in pen for the fourth edition published in 1700.

The Essay Concerning Human Understanding seeks to explain how it is that we as humans acquire our ideas and knowledge. In it, Locke refutes the suggestion of rationalist philosophers like Descartes that man is born with some form of innate understanding, instead famously describing the mind as a 'white paper' (i.e. blank slate) 'void of all Characters, without any Ideas' which is then filled through sensory experience (p.41). As such, the text is considered one of the primary sources of empiricism in early modern philosophy.

With contemporary manuscript annotations to the margins inserting the additions which were incorporated into the fourth edition of the text published in 1700, and correcting errors. These include (in italics): p.17 (Book I, Chap. III, 5) '...the highest perfection of humane Nature, to do otherwise'; p.18 (Book I, Chap. III, 8) '...nothing else, but our own Opinion or judgement of the moral rectitude or pravity of our own actions'; p.33 (Book I, Chap. IV, 16) 'angles' for 'Angels'; p.93 (Book II, Chap. XIV, 5) 'Durtaion' for 'Duration'; and p.190 (Book II, Chap. XXVII, 29) inserting the extensive anecdote of Prince Maurice and his Brazilian parrot.

Third edition; folio (33 x 21 cm); engraved portrait frontispiece of Locke after Sylvester Brounower, ads to verso of final f. of text, ownership inscription in pen to title upper margin, obscured inscription in pen to front pastedown, contemporary corrections, annotations and notes in pen to pp17, 18, 33, 93, 131, and 190, slight dampstaining to title and prelims and occasionally thereafter; blind-panelled calf, later contrasting brown morocco lettering-piece to spine, spine head cap and bottom corner of upper cover expertly repaired, a little rubbed, very good; [40], 407, [13]pp.

ESTC R20221; Yolton 63.