Essai Analytique sur les Facultes de L'Ame.

This is a rare or used book from the Berkelouw Rare Books Department.

Copenhagen: Freres Cl. & Ant. Philibert 1760. 4to. Orig. calf-backed paper boards (front hinge weak but sound). Spine extra gilt with raised bands and morocco titling label. (8 xxxii 552 2pp.). Title-page printed in red/black ink and with title-vignette. Errata leaf at end. 1st edition of Bonnet's major contribution to philosophy and psychology. NOTE: In this work and in Essai de Physchologie-which preceeded it in 1755- Bonnet "followed Condillac by using the device of the imaginary statue to illustrate the genetic method of explaining the development of the personality. The personality arises from memory which grows out of sensations. Especially concerned with the body-mind relation Bonnet accepted David Hartley's theory of association of ideas. He defined freedom as the power of the soul to follow necessary motives; but in granting man a substantial mind he denied mechanical determinism. He held that the relation between mind and body indicates that the mind must operate in a physical organism but survives it-an idea that was to be developed (later) in his cosmic speculations." (EP Vol. 1 p. 345).