Philosophiae rationalis
“First edition of a philosophical treatise on grammar, logic, rhetoric, poetics, and historiography, published the year before Campanella’s death. His notion of philosophical or general grammar influenced the attempt to construct a universal language in John Wilkins’s 1668 Essay towards a Real Character” (DSB XV, 68-70).
A precious copy preserved in its contemporary vellum.
In-4 of (5) ff., 152 pp., (1) f., 491 [for 397], (1) f., 258, (1) f.
Flexible vellum, calligraphed title on smooth spine. Contemporary binding.
220 x 155 mm.
Campanella, Thomas. Philosophiae rationalis partes quinque namely: grammar, dialectic, rhetoric, poetics, historiography.
Paris, Jean Du Bray, 1638.
Rare first edition of Campanella’s major work, the “phoenix of all philosophers & politicians” (Gabriel Naudé), written in prison.
Brunet, I, 1520; Graesse, II, 28; R. Arbour, The Baroque Era in France, II, no.16394; J. Delumeau, The Mystery of Campanella.
This work, one of the author’s most important, contains his Art of Poetry.
Campanella (1568-1639), released in 1596, again attacked the corrupt ecclesiastical hierarchy, and it was then that the idea of the City of the Sun, or the idea of a philosophical republic started to take shape in his mind, a curious anticipation. Betrayed twice, Campanella was arrested, feigned madness, saved his life at the price of abominable tortures and, condemned to life imprisonment, was detained in the Castel dell'Ovo in Naples. In his cell, he resumed writing political treatises to remain in contact with the outside world. This was the period when, although it was dangerous for him, he wrote his Apology for Galileo.
Subsequently, he dedicated his efforts to promoting his political and religious doctrine. Campanella first addressed Spain, traditionally obedient to the papacy, in his treatise De la monarchie d’Espagne [De Monarchia hispanica], and various writings up to 1608; he then turned to France, whose influence in Europe was then predominant, and composed a long letter to Louis XIII, published in Paris in 1636, where Campanella came as soon as he was released.
It was, incidentally, in Paris where this exceptional man died.
“Campanella, who suffered torture seven times, became the passionate reformer of liberal philosophy against Aristotle. He is one of the martyrs of Blind and Cruel Fanaticism” (Imaginary Worlds…, C. Flammarion, p.329).
Tommaso Campanella (1538-1639), “this exceptional man, one of the most important figures of the Italian Renaissance” (Dictionary of Authors), began to oppose the doctrine of Aristotle, then highly favored. Enthusiastic about the teaching of Bernardino Telesio, he joined him in Naples. There, he was first arrested and charged with “Telesian rationalism.” He met Galileo in Bologna, was then again accused of heresy and sent to the Castel Sant'Angelo where he was imprisoned at the same time as Giordano Bruno.
The Inquisition condemned him and he spent 27 years in prison where he wrote his principal political and philosophical treatises.
Campanella belongs to the history of our literature due to the influence he exerted on French thought.
Heir to the humanists of the 16th century, the philosopher was one of the initiators of the experimental method; Mersenne, Descartes, Gassendi did not read him in vain.
Precious copy preserved in its original contemporary limp vellum.
Manuscript ex-libris and library stamp on the title page.
