Code de la Nature, ou le véritable Esprit de ses Loix, de tout tems négligé ou méconnu

MORELLY

Published by Chez le Vrai Sage, Paris, 1755

About this Item

A beautiful, fresh and complete copy in a contemporary calf binding; scarce thus. Housed in a full leather custom box. The first edition of Morelly's influential major work, in which a severe concept of economic equality introduces an entirely new utopian model. Hartig called it the 'oeuvre mâitresse de la pensée utopique du XVIII siècle. Many 19th-century writers admitted its influence, including Fourier, Cabet, Proudhon, Louis Blanc, Engels and Marx, who quoted Morelly on the dangers of private ownership. 'Morelly argued that the code of nature was completely communistic. Starting out from the proposition that moral evil, the essence of which was avarice, could be explained by social conditions Morelly portrayed and advocated an ideal communistic society in which it would be 'impossible to be depraved.' (.In many respects Morelly's system anticipates the rationalistic utopianism of Fourier.' (Kingsley Martin in ESS, vol. xi, pp. 10 ff).

Seller Inventory # D19710

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Code de la Nature, ou le véritable Esprit de ses Loix, de tout tems négligé ou méconnu
• Publisher: Chez le Vrai Sage, Paris
• Publication Date: 1755
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition.
• Condition: Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • French Literature and History