An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. 2 volumes bound in one (Complete)

Locke, John

Published by J. Churchill (Vol. 1); A. and J. Churchill (Vol. 2), London, 1716

Condition: Used Hardcover

Save for Later

Sold by ERIC CHAIM KLINE, BOOKSELLER (ABAA ILAB), Santa Monica, CA, U.S.A.

Association Member:

ABAA
ILAB

Heritage Bookseller
AbeBooks Seller since 4 February 2000

Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars

View this seller's items

View all copies of this book

Used - Hardcover

Condition: fair to vg

Price:

� 459.15

� 3.71 shipping
Ships within U.S.A.

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Save for Later

About this Item

Octavo (8 x 5"). [32], 372, [1]; [16], 340, [25, index], [1]pp. Contemporary full calf, with modern white lettering on spine. Raised bands. Previous owner's gift inscription on front free endpaper: "To the Edinburgh Academical Club, This Book Is Presented By One of its Original Members, John M. Balfour.* 1829." Engraved frontispiece portrait of John Locke by J. Nutting, after a painting by S. Brounower. Title page for each volume. Seventh and enlarged edition of John Locke s Essay "Concerning Human Understanding," a philosophical landmark originally published in 1689 (although dated 1690).5 One of the principal sources of empiricism in modern philosophy, this essay presents a detailed, systematic philosophy of mind and thought, and wrestles with fundamental questions about how we think and perceive, and it even touches on how we express ourselves through language, logic, and religious practices. In the introduction, entitled 'The Epistle to the Reader,' Locke describes how he became involved in his current mode of philosophical thinking. He relates an anecdote about a conversation with friends that made him realize that men often suffer in their pursuit of knowledge because they fail to determine the limits of their understanding. The Essay is divided into four books (two per volume): First volume: - Book I is devoted to an attack on nativism or the doctrine of innate ideas. Locke allowed that some ideas are in the mind from an early age, but argued that such ideas are furnished by the senses starting in the womb: for instance, differences between colors or tastes. If we have a universal understanding of a concept like sweetness, it is not because this is an innate idea, but because we are all exposed to sweet tastes at an early age. One of Locke's fundamental arguments against innate ideas is the very fact that there is no truth to which all people attest. He took the time to argue against a number of propositions that rationalists offer as universally accepted truth, for instance the principle of identity, pointing out that at the very least children and idiots are often unaware of these propositions. - Book II: Whereas Book I is intended to reject the doctrine of innate ideas proposed by Descartes and the rationalists, Book II explains that every idea is derived from experience either by sensation - direct sensory information - or reflection - "the perception of the operations of our own mind within us, as it is employed about the ideas it has got". Furthermore, Book II is also a systematic argument for the existence of an intelligent being: "Thus, from the consideration of ourselves, and what we infallibly find in our own constitutions, our reason leads us to the knowledge of this certain and evident truth, that there is an eternal, most powerful, and most knowing being; which whether any one will please to call God, it matters not!" Second volume: - Book III focuses on words. Locke connects words to the ideas they signify, claiming that man is unique in being able to frame sounds into distinct words and to signify ideas by those words, and then that these words are built into language. Chapter ten in this book focuses on "Abuse of Words." Here, Locke calls out metaphysicians for making up new words that have no clear meaning. He also criticizes the use of words which are not linked to clear ideas, and to those who change the criteria or meaning underlying a term. Thus he uses a discussion of language to demonstrate sloppy thinking. Locke followed the Port-Royal Logique (1662) in numbering among the abuses of language those that he calls "affected obscurity" in chapter 10. Locke complains that such obscurity is caused by, for example, philosophers who, to confuse their readers, invoke old terms and give them unexpected meanings or who construct new terms without clearly defining their intent. Writers may also invent such obfuscation to make themselves appear more learned or their ideas more complicated and nuanced or erudi.

Seller Inventory # 42019

Contact seller

Report this item

Bibliographic Details

Title

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. 2 volumes bound in one (Complete)

Publisher

J. Churchill (Vol. 1); A. and J. Churchill (Vol. 2), London

Publication Date

1716

Binding

Hardcover

Edition

Seventh Edition, with large Additions.

Condition

fair to vg

Seller catalogs

Religion, Philosophy

Store Description

Since 1985 we offer individual books for sale from our inventory of 150,000 rare, out-of-print and antiquarian volumes on many topics, with an emphasis on Judaica, Hebraica, Bibles and rabbinics, the fine and decorative arts, architecture, photography, textile and wallpaper sample books, Bauhaus and the avant garde, expressionist dance, Olympic Games and sport, the ancient near-east and archeology, erotica, illustrated and foreign-language books, especially German, Yiddish, Polish and Hebrew, as well as books from the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich, plus Russian constructivist materials. We create book collections, both large and small, for individuals, decorators, archives and libraries�currently available: a 10,000-volume research collection on Judaica in the German language. In addition, we maintain a beguiling selection of original works of art and photography. Eric Chaim Kline provides appraisal services for estate, insurance and tax purposes, often helping to match book donors with libraries and museums. We purchase books of merit and entire collections; we also take books on consignment with favorable terms. We are a rental source for movie and tv production, occasionally providing the prop on which the plot turns. Traveling throughout the U.S. and Europe, Eric Chaim Kline has been buying and selling old and rare books since the 1980�s, when in graduate school at Brandeis University. Proprietor of bookshops in several Los Angeles locations since 1985, he hosts visitors by appointment in our lively bookstore and ships books to collectors, libraries and museums worldwide. Kline occasionally lectures on topics in book collecting and Jewish studies. He sponsors the annual Bibliography Award granted by the Association of Jewish Libraries and serves on the national board of the Antiquarian Booksellers� Association of America. We welcome your inquiries.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Association Member

Members of these associations are committed to maintaining the highest standards. They vouch for the authenticity of all items offered for sale. They provide expert and detailed descriptions, disclose all significant defects and/or restorations, provide clear and accurate pricing, and operate with fairness and honesty during the purchase experience.

Seller's business information

ERIC CHAIM KLINE, BOOKSELLER (ABAA ILAB)
CA, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

Visa, Mastercard, American Express, checks, money orders and bank transfers. Prepayment is required, however we extend billing to libraries and members of the trade. Books may be returned within 10 days if not as described.

Right of cancellation

If you are a consumer you can cancel the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF CANCELLATION

Statutory Right to cancel

You have the right to cancel this contract within 14 days for any reason.

The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right to cancel, you must inform us, ERIC CHAIM KLINE, BOOKSELLER (ABAA ILAB), P.O. Box 829, 90406, Santa Monica, California, U.S.A., of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post, fax or e-mail). You may use the attached model cancellation form, but it is not obligatory. You can also electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". If you use this option, we will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a cancellation on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired.

Effects of cancellation

If you cancel this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).

We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel with contract.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.

You shall send back the goods or hand them over to us or ERIC CHAIM KLINE, BOOKSELLER (ABAA ILAB), Santa Monica, California, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your cancellation from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

Exceptions to the right of cancellation

The right of cancellation does not apply to:

the delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
the supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not cancel it once delivery had started.

Model withdrawal form

(complete and return this form only if you wish to withdraw from the contract)

To: (ERIC CHAIM KLINE, BOOKSELLER (ABAA ILAB), P.O. Box 829, 90406, Santa Monica, California, U.S.A.)

I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following service (*),

Ordered on (*)/received on (*)

Name of consumer(s)

Address of consumer(s)

Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper)

Date

* Delete as appropriate.

Shipping Terms

Shipping fees are based on your location and desired time frame, and they vary according to the weight and size of your order. We calculate United States Postal Service fees online and then round the amount up to an even figure by one or two dollars to cover delivery confirmation and to help with the cost of packing materials. We also ship via Federal Express (Fed Ex) and USPS Express. We are happy to accommodate special shipping needs by request.

Within the United States:
USPS Media mail is typically $5 for a book of average weight. Priority mail varies, depending on whether USPS flat-rates are applicable and advantageous for the dimension, weight and distance.

International:
International First Class typically starts at $20. International Priority is typically $35 or less if under four pounds weight, and starts at $40 if over four pounds. International Express is a faster and more expensive option.

Federal Express:
All Fed Ex shipping options are available, using your account or ours.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	7 to 10 business days	2 to 6 business days
First item	� 3.71	� 14.49

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.

Payment Methods

Check Money Order Bank/Wire Transfer

Add to Wants