Descartes

Edinburgh: W. Blackwood, 1901. Octvao in polished brown printer and stamped cloth; vi, 211 pages, 1 unnumbered leaf of plates: portrait; 18 cm. bibliographical references. Nice tight clean copy with minor wear and edge-rubbing. Overall very good to very good(+). Hardcover.

Volume 1 in Blackwood's Philosophical Classics for English Readers series. ¶  "Descartes" by John Pentland Mahaffy is part of Blackwood's Philosophical Classics, a series that aimed to provide accessible introductions to major figures in Western philosophy. Mahaffy's book serves as an overview of René Descartes, the 17th-century French philosopher who is often credited with laying the groundwork for modern Western philosophy. The book delves into Descartes' life, his major works, and his contributions to various fields including philosophy, mathematics, and the scientific method. Mahaffy's treatment of Descartes is generally aimed at those who are new to the philosopher's work. He covers key concepts like Cartesian doubt, the cogito ("I think, therefore I am"), and Descartes' dualism, which posits a separation between the mind and the body. The book also explores Descartes' impact on subsequent thinkers and how his ideas have been received and critiqued over the years. John Pentland Mahaffy was a 19th-century Irish classicist and philosopher, and his perspective on Descartes is informed by his own scholarly background. While the book is not a deep dive into Cartesian philosophy, it serves as a useful starting point for readers interested in understanding the basics of Descartes' thought and his role in the history of philosophy." ¶  Mahaffy, John Pentland, Sir, 1839-1919.

Descartes, René, 1596-1650.