Philosophical Dialogues

Simpson (William)

Philosophical Dialogues

Concerning the Principles of Natural Bodies: wherein the Principles of the Old and New Philosophy are stated, and the new demonstrated, more agreeable to Reason, from Mechanical Experiments and its usefulness to the benefit of Man-kind.

Description: FIRST EDITION, some damp-staining around the edges, a single worm hole throughout, without causing any serious loss, pp. [xvi], 173, [1], 12mo, recased in later sheep, red edges, a bit scuffed, various ownership inscriptions, Jn Ash (c.1700) at the head of the Dedication, David Dott, 1759, and J.G., 1785, on the preserved fly-leaf of the original binding, and Joseph Hay, 1822, on the title-page, sound

Publication Details: Printed by T. Hodgkin, for Dorman Newman, 1677

Notes: William Simpson was a medical doctor from York, whose dates in ESTC are given as 'active 1665-1677', this being the span of his printed works, all of which relate to his spat with Robert Wittie over Scarsborough Spaw. The present work deals more with Wittie's stubborn support of Aristotelianism. The two characters in the dialogues are Hydrophilus (intended for Wittie, as made clear in the Preface) and Pyrophilus (Simpson himself, or the type of the new philosopher as exemplified by Bacon, Harvey and Boyle - all mentioned in the text). The dispute with Wittie was characterised by some choice te...moreWilliam Simpson was a medical doctor from York, whose dates in ESTC are given as 'active 1665-1677', this being the span of his printed works, all of which relate to his spat with Robert Wittie over Scarsborough Spaw. The present work deals more with Wittie's stubborn support of Aristotelianism. The two characters in the dialogues are Hydrophilus (intended for Wittie, as made clear in the Preface) and Pyrophilus (Simpson himself, or the type of the new philosopher as exemplified by Bacon, Harvey and Boyle - all mentioned in the text). The dispute with Wittie was characterised by some choice terminology, a feature of the present work. The dialogues begin with Hydrophilus in high choler: 'Would it not, Pyrophilus, raise the spleen of any, even the calmest Dogmatists, to see you appear upon the stage of the World, like so many Americans, presenting new and unheard of things...' HIDE

Bibliography: (ESTC R25204)

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Price: £1,200

Subject: Sciences

Published Date: 1677

Stock Number: 53712

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