KANT, Immanuel (1724-1804). Critik der reinen Vernunft. Riga: Johann Friedrich Hartknoch, 1781.
Lot 145

KANT, Immanuel (1724-1804). Critik der reinen Vernunft. Riga: Johann Friedrich Hartknoch, 1781.

Closed13 December 2017

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GBP 15,000

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KANT, Immanuel (1724-1804). Critik der reinen Vernunft. Riga: Johann Friedrich Hartknoch, 1781.

First edition of Kant's greatest work, the Critique of Pure Reason. 'Kant's great achievement was to conclude finally the lines on which philosophical speculation had proceeded in the eighteenth century, and to open up a new and more comprehensive system of dealing with the problems of philosophy... The influence of Kant is paramount in the critical method of modern philosophy. No other thinker has been able to hold with such firmness the balance between speculative and empirical ideas. His penetrating analysis of the elements involved in synthesis, and the subjective process by which these elements are realized in the individual consciousness, demonstrated the operation of "pure reason"; and the simplicity and cogency of his arguments achieved immediate fame. Kant's achievements in other branches of philosophy were equally distinguished and fruitful ... His methods ... dominated western philosophical thought throughout the nineteenth century, as they do today' (PMM). Norman 1197; PMM 226.

Octavo (202 x 121mm). Woodcut device on title, head- and tailpieces (faintly spotted and browned throughout, very minor marginal staining at beginning on first few leaves). Contemporary half sheep (extremities rubbed, corners more heavily). Provenance: Beck (ownership inscription on title, note of gift to:) — Fr. Francken (ownership inscriptions on title and front free endpaper dated March 1833 in Rostock; whole page of annotation on rear flyleaf in same hand).