Outline of a New System of Logic, With a Critical Examination of Dr. Whately's "Elements of Logic".

BENTHAM, George.

Published by London: Published by Hunt and Clarke, 1827

First edition of this scarce work of logical iconoclasm, the first to articulate the quantification of the predicate - a principle William Stanley Jevons characterised, in an unpublished letter, as "one of the most important discoveries in all science". The publishers went bankrupt during publication: many copies were either pulped or used for waste paper, but enough survived to influence such later figures as Jevons and William Hamilton. By the mid-19th century, credit for the discovery of quantification was widely attributed to William Hamilton, despite his open acknowledgement that he had drawn on the Outline. Bentham (1800-1884), then fast on the way to becoming one of the most influential botanists of the 19th century, appears not to have been concerned with asserting his youthful claim: it fell to Jevons and Spencer, in a series of 1873 articles in the Contemporary Review, to reinstate his priority. George was the nephew, secretary, and amanuensis of Jeremy Bentham, who introduced him to many prominent and future philosophers, most notably John Stuart Mill. He acknowledges the influence of his uncle on his youthful work of logical philosophy, writing in the preface that his leading principles "must be considered as founded on those of Mr Bentham" (p. x). Risse II, p. 30. Octavo. Tables and formulae in the text. Twentieth-century grey quarter paper boards to style, printed paper label to spine, green marbled paper sides, edges uncut. Elaborate 19th-century signature to initial blank of "J. Peachey", possibly John William Peachey (1788-1837), son of the 2nd Baron Selsey; later signature of "S. P. Duval" underneath. Occasional pencil annotations and underlining to contents. Light bumping and rubbing, slight creasing and damp staining to spine, minor browning and foxing to endpapers and content margins: a very good copy. Seller Inventory # 171833

Bibliographic Details

Title: Outline of a New System of Logic, With a ...
Publisher: London: Published by Hunt and Clarke, 1827
Edition: 1st Edition