Alciphron: or, the Minute Philosopher. In Seven Dialogues. Containing an Apology for the Christian Religion, against those who are called Free-thinkers.

First edition of Berkeley's defence of traditional Anglicanism against the nascent secularism of the early Enlightenment: a major work of 18th-century Christian apologetics. Alciphron is a critical source for Berkeley's wider philosophy of language. Berkeley (1685-1753) defends the Theist position that the world is dependent on an interventionist God providing religious knowledge through miracles and divine revelation. Enlightenment thinkers increasingly argued that a non-interventionist deity had created the universe to operate autonomously on machine-like principles and laws. In such a scenario, the miracles and revelations of an interventionist God were of little use as a source of religious knowledge, which was possible only through rational reflection. In challenging these ideas, Berkeley collectively represents their chief exponents, Locke, Mandeville, and the third Earl of Shaftesbury, as the conceited free thinkers Alciphron and Lysicles. Volume II includes a revised edition of Berkeley's An Essay towards a New Theory of Vision, first published in 1709, with a new title page and continuous register. In the Advertisement, Berkeley notes that his earlier work is included as an addendum to the fourth dialogue, which concerns the function of the senses in deriving knowledge of God. Jessop 121a; Keynes 15. 2 vols, octavo (194 x 120 mm). Wood engraving to title pages of both vols. Contemporary panelled calf, neatly rebacked and recornered, spines ruled and lettered in gilt, raised bands, edges sprinkled red. 18th-century signature of "William McGuire" to title page of vol. II. Light rubbing, cosmetic splits to inner hinges, minor browning and foxing to endpapers and edges, loss to upper outer corner of title page (vol. I), small hole in F8 (vol. I): a very good copy.…