Disquisitions Relating to Matters and Spirit. To which is Added, The History of the Philosophical Doctrine concerning the Origin of the Soul, and Nature of Matter; with its Influence on Christianity, especially with Respect to the Doctrine of the Pre-existence of Christ. [With] The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity Illustrated; Being an Appendix to the Disquisitions relating to Matter and Spirit. To which is added An Answer to the Letters on Materialism, and on Hartley's Theory of the Mind.

PRIESTLEY, Joseph.

Published by LondonPrinted for J. Johnson ., 1777

About this Item

FIRST EDITION. 2 works bound in one volume. 8vo. (20.5 x 13 cm). pp.xxxix+[2, errata, explanation of frontispiece]*+356 (lacking the adverts); xxxii+206. Contemporary half calf over marbled boards sometime rebacked preserving original spine, spine ruled and lettered in gilt. *Lacking the frontispiece to Disquisitions Relating to Matter and Spirit. Old bookplate with pencil inscription to front pastedown. Binding scuffed, top edge darkened, light toning and occasional light spotting. Joseph Priestley (1733-1804) was an English chemist, natural philosopher, theologian, grammarian, polymath, and liberal political theorist who published over 150 works. He has historically been credited with the independent discovery of oxygen in 1774 by the thermal decomposition of mercuric oxide. The present work is one Priestley's principal metaphysical works, written as an elucidation and defence of his monist materialism and ideas on the unity of body and soul. Deeply controversial in its time, Priestley's Disquisitions contains a refutation of Cartesian dualism as erroneous insofar mind and spirit are actually part of material being, presenting matter as capable of thought and perception and dismissing the existence of a nonphysical soul. Despite widespread charges of atheism, Priestley saw matter as the manifestation of spiritual force and determinism as an active acceptance of causality in the will of God (ODNB).

Seller Inventory # 57664

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Disquisitions Relating to Matters and Spirit. To which is Added, The History of the Philosophical Doctrine concerning the Origin of the Soul, and Nature of Matter; with its Influence on Christianity, especially with Respect to the Doctrine of the Pre-existence of Christ. [With] The Doctrine of Philosophical Necessity Illustrated; Being an Appendix to the Disquisitions relating to Matter and Spirit. To which is added An Answer to the Letters on Materialism, and on Hartley's Theory of the Mind.
• Publisher: LondonPrinted for J. Johnson .
• Publication Date: 1777
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Seller catalogs:
  • RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY