Lectures on Metaphysics and Logic.

HAMILTON, Sir William.

Published by William Blackwood and Sons 1859-1860, Edinburgh and London, 1859

About this Item

Volume 1: Half-title + Series TP + TP + [vii]-xvi = Preface + [xvii]-xix = Contents + [1]-444 + [445]-[446] = Publisher's Advertisements + [1]-14 = Publisher's Advertisements; Volume 2: Half-title + Series TP + TP + [vii]-x = Contents + [1]-568; Volume 3: Half-title + Series TP + TP + [vii]-ix = Preface + [xi]-xiv = Contents + [1]-468 + [1]-[16] = Publisher's Advertisements; Volume 4: Half-title + Series TP + TP + [v] = Errata + [vii]-x = Contents + [1]-510; Octavo. First Editions. Sir William Hamilton's Most Important Work.Hamilton's most important work, these volumes were posthumously published, the two volumes on Metaphysics appeared in 1859 and the two Logic volumes in 1860. His only other published work was "Discussions on Philosophy and Literature, Education and University Reform" in 1852. Hamilton, the Scottish philosopher and logician, was appointed to the chair of logic and metaphysics at the University of Edinburgh in 1836. Hamilton - who the Encyclopedia of Philosophy characterizes as "a man of stupendous erudition" - was strongly influenced by Immanuel Kant and Thomas Reid. In his "A History of Philosophy in America", Bruce Kuklick claims a pivotal role for Hamilton: "By the 1830's German ideas were making inroads at the American colleges. Many Germans immigrating to the United States had read German philosophy directly. Additionally, a trickle of American students returned from Germany with Kantian theories, and translations of German works were periodically published. Most important was the philosophy, in English, of Sir William Hamilton. Although Kant and the Scots had a single enemy in Hume, they still disagreed. Was the noumenal world, that of things in themselves, known? Kant said no, the Scots yes. In the middle of the nineteenth century Hamilton adjudicated this quarrel. An erudite Scottish thinker, Hamilton made German thought relevant to British debate. On the East Coast of the United States his reputation lay in joining the German and Scottish positions. But in welcoming Hamilton the Americans took the first step in transforming collegiate philosophy." (Kuklick, pp. 64-5) Original embossed burgundy cloth boards with gilt lettering on the spines. The first two volumes identified on the spines a "Metaphysics" and the final two as "Logic". A really lovely and well-preserved set. ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. Seller Inventory # 835

Bibliographic Details

Title: Lectures on Metaphysics and Logic.

Publisher: William Blackwood and Sons 1859-1860, Edinburgh and London

Publication Date: 1859