HUTCHESON, Francis.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

An Essay on the Nature and Conduct of the Passions and Affections. First edition. The philosopher Francis Hutcheson (1694-1746), a seminal figure in the Scottish enlightenment, wrote the present work with the aim to refute the arguments of John Clarke, who had contended that benevolence is the result of self-love. Hutcheson respected his adversary, indeed stating in the preface that Clarke's deductions "seem'd more ingenious than any which [he] ever yet saw in print", yet instead argued that benevolence was entirely separate from self-love, coming instead from a sense of public service. The essay, which underwent seven London and Dublin editions by 1769, proved an important influence on David Hume's Treatise of Human Nature.

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.