Books

Volume 1: 2 leaves (4 pp.) with advertisements for "Works by William Howitt" + 1 blank leaf + TP + [iii]-vii = Preface + [ix]-xvi = Contents + [1]-580; Volume 2: 2 leaves (4 pp.) with advertisements for "Works by William Howitt" + 1 blank leaf + TP + [iii]-xii = Contents + half-title (with Herschel quote on verso) + [3]-624, Octavo. First Edition (MacMinn, p. 56).This is the first edition of Mill's brilliant first book wherein he makes the "first major installment of his comprehensive restatement of an empiricist and utilitarian position." (EP, Vol. 5, p. 315) The book "had a rapid success, beyond the expectations of its author, and was for many years the standard authority with all who took his side in the main philosophical questions. Mill, in fact, was recognized as the great leader of the empirical school. Few men have had a more marked influence upon the rising intellect of the time." (DNB) It is nearly impossible to accurately and comprehensively summarize the book's salient and important points in so small a space. The Encyclopedia of Philosophy gives two and a half full pages of exposition to the work and then devotes another nine pages to an article entitled: "Mill's Methods of Induction". In short, despite over two thousand years of philosophical consideration of logic based on deduction, Mill abandons that approach and provides an analysis and proof for logic based on the principles of induction working solely from the human experiences of sensation. An incredible tour de force by one of the leading intellects of English philosophy. 1843" inscribed on the inside front cover of both volumes. Internally, very crisp, bright and untrimmed. One small bit of contemporary ink marginalia in the Contents of Volume1. A lovely copy of a set very difficult to find in any condition. Extremely rare in this state. ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

'A System of Logic' establishes the principles of scientific reasoning and logic developed by Mill.