A Treatise of Human Nature: - 1817

London: Printed for Thomas and Joseph Allman, and sold by Deighton and Sons, Cambridge; R. Bliss, Oxford; and P. Hill and Co. Edinburgh,, 1817. The founding document of Cognitive Science Second edition, a splendid copy of Hume's greatest treatise, both his first work and the most comprehensive exposition of his philosophical system. The Treatise is widely recognized as "one of the most important philosophical works written in English" (Weber, p. 171). The Treatise was first published in three volumes in 1739-40. The philosopher Jerry Fodor called the work "the founding document of Cognitive Science" (cited in Weber, p. 171). Hume set out to incorporate all philosophy and science in an empirical analysis of human nature, paralleling Newton's achievement in physics. "The consequences of this simple proposition were to be even more radical when applied to moral subjects than they had been when applied to natural ones, a century earlier. The multiplication of philosophical systems, which had brought metaphysical reasoning into disrepute, would be at an end" (ODNB). Most of Hume's later work was a revision of the principles and ideas expressed in the Treatise. Vast in scope and ambition, the treatise had an enduring influence on the leading Scottish Enlightenment thinkers of its time and on subsequent western philosophical thought. However, its first publication did not meet with immediate public success, and Hume did not again attempt such a large project of abstract philosophy. The long delay until this second edition reflects the poor initial performance. Hume had contracted that if there was a second edition, he would buy any unsold copies of the first edition at ten shillings a volume (Butler & Ainslie, p. 6). Though he hoped sales would justify a second edition, he evidently did not wish to absorb the vast cost when this did not occur. Both the first and second editions are uncommon in commerce; it is unlikely that a finer copy still in its original boards will appear on the market. Two volumes, octavo. Uncut in original grey boards with blue marbled paper spines, printed paper spine labels. Housed in a dark blue quarter morocco solander box by the Chelsea Bindery. Ownership inscription of "Mr Middleton" on front free endpaper of each volume. Chip at head of spine of volume I, minor loss to paper labels, first and last few leaves a little spotted; a superb set, uncut, unpressed, and largely unopened. Chuo 31; Jessop, p. 14. Annemarie Butler and Donald C. Ainslie, The Cambridge Companion to Hume's Treatise, 2015; Leigh Weber, Western Political Thought, 2018.