Edition originale

A Series of Lectures upon Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding

1824 · réf. 376657 — Printed by R. Graisberry. Published by Hodges & McArthur 21 College Green Dublin 1824. First Edition. Half Leather. Good Condition. First edition of what appears to have been Dionysius Lardner's first published book and an unusually interesting contemporary student's working copy. Published in Dublin in 1824 Lardner's lectures arose after he discovered that an unauthorised abridgement of Locke was being sold to students under his name. Rather than encourage learning by rote Lardner wanted students to examine Locke critically and "judge and reason" for themselves. This copy appears to have been specially bound for precisely that purpose with substantial gatherings of writing paper inserted amongst and after the printed text. An anonymous early reader filled many of these leaves with extensive philosophical notes and abstracts while also answering Lardner's printed questions. Particularly revealing are manuscript study schedules allocating hours to a Tutor Locke Bacon Butler Cicero Logic and other subjects strongly suggesting contemporary academic use apparently in the Trinity College Dublin environment. A fascinating survival in which the physical copy records the use for which Lardner intended his book: not simply the reading of Locke but active study questioning and preparation for examination. With the Dublin bookseller's ticket of E. Madden 7 Grafton Street. =================================================================== Binding : Contemporary or near-contemporary half calf over marbled boards with calf corners; spine with raised bands gilt rules and blind-stamped decoration contrasting red morocco lettering-piece lettered in gilt "LARDNER'S LOCKE". Binding rubbed and worn at extremities with some wear and loss at spine ends but remaining sound and attractive. The construction of the volume incorporating substantial gatherings of writing paper appears deliberately designed to facilitate its use as a working study copy. Collation and condition : Title-page; Preface pp. i-iii; preliminary Lecture List beginning part-way through Lecture III and continuing to Lecture VII pp. iii-viii with manuscript annotations; main printed text pp. 1-164; concluding Lecture List Lectures XX-XXVII pp. xvii-xx. Printed pp. 81-82 are absent. Pages 83-86 are damaged at the inner margin and laid down onto old paper guards. Pages 127-128 are torn with loss at the upper outer corner. Specially bound with substantial gatherings of blank writing paper: following p.112 are 4 pages of manuscript notes and 8 blank pages; following p.128 14 manuscript pages and 6 blanks; following the printed text 16 manuscript pages approximately 127 blank pages and 3 manuscript pages containing the study timetable. Numerous further contemporary manuscript annotations and answers occur throughout the printed text. Despite the textual defects noted above the copy's extensive contemporary manuscript material is an integral and particularly interesting feature of the volume. =================================================================== LARDNER Rev. Dionysius. A Series of Lectures upon Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Dublin: Printed by R. Graisberry. Published by Hodges and McArthur 21 College-Green 1824. First edition. An important early work by the Irish scientist writer and educationalist Dionysius Lardner 1793-1859 apparently his first published book. Lardner was then associated with Trinity College Dublin and was subsequently to become one of the nineteenth century's best-known popularisers of science and general knowledge most notably as editor of the extensive Cabinet Cyclopaedia. Lardner's preface gives an unusually revealing account of the book's origins. He explains that Dublin publishers had repeatedly approached him to prepare a condensed version of John Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding proposals which he had declined despite offers of payment. He was finally prompted to write after discovering that a spurious contraction of Locke in catechetical form was circulating under his name being sold by booksellers and purchased by students as Lardner's own work. Finding himself as he puts it burdened with the errors of others he undertook the present lectures partly "in self defence." Lardner nevertheless refused to produce the straightforward abridgement originally requested. His intention was to explain and illustrate Locke compare his opinions on disputed questions with those of other modern philosophers point out instances where he believed Locke contradicted himself and incorporate those portions of the Essay necessary to understanding the argument. Of particular interest is Lardner's criticism of students who simply "get by heart" Locke's doctrines. He regarded philosophical investigation as an exercise of the understanding and deliberately attempted to present disputable questions from more than one side enabling the reader to "judge and reason for himself." At his publishers' request he also supplied questions upon the lectures graded according to importance and intended for students of differing levels of attainment. A contemporary working study copy : This particular copy is considerably more interesting than an ordinary example because it appears to have been specially bound as a working academic copy with substantial gatherings of blank writing paper inserted at intervals through the printed work and a particularly large gathering at the end. These are not conventional alternating interleaves but blocks of writing paper evidently provided for extensive notes. The anonymous contemporary or early nineteenth-century reader made considerable use of them. Numerous answers have been written alongside Lardner's printed student questions while the additional leaves contain extended philosophical notes definitions arguments and abstracts relating to Locke. Among the manuscript material is an "Abstract of Book 4th of the Essay Concerning Human Understanding" together with discussions headed or concerned with such subjects as "Sensitive Knowledge" intuitive knowledge perception the existence and qualities of matter primary and secondary qualities and the relationship between matter and thought. The writer frequently numbers propositions and arguments summarises Locke and works through philosophical problems rather than merely copying passages from the printed book. Particularly significant are manuscript pages at the rear containing what appears to be a detailed examination study timetable. Hours are allocated to the Tutor and to the study of Locke Bacon Butler Cicero Logic and other prescribed subjects. A small pencilled syllogistic exercise on the rear pastedown provides another indication of formal study in logic. Taken together - the Dublin publication Lardner's connection with Trinity College Dublin his explicit references to students and examinations the answers to his printed questions extensive manuscript abstracts and the examination study timetable - the evidence strongly suggests that this was a contemporary student's working copy apparently associated with study at Trinity College Dublin. No ownership inscription has been discovered however and the student cannot presently be identified. There is an especially attractive relationship between the physical history of this copy and Lardner's stated educational purpose. He wanted his readers to progress beyond simply memorising Locke and instead to investigate compare arguments and reason independently. The anonymous student who owned this copy appears to have done precisely what Lardner intended leaving unusually extensive evidence of the practical use of the book as an academic text. The front pastedown also bears the small printed ticket of "E. Madden Bookseller 7 Grafton Strt." providing an additional Dublin bookselling association. Size: 12 x 20 cms. Category: Antiquarian & Rare; New Arrivals; This item may require more postage than the rates shown for delivery outside the UK. If extra postage is required we will contact you before processing your order and you will be given the details and option to decline the extra cost. Printed by R. Graisberry. Published by Hodges & McArthur, 21 College Green hardcover