E-Book Overview
Malebranche is now recognized as a major figure in the history of philosophy, occupying a crucial place in the Rationalist tradition of Descartes, Spinoza and Leibniz. The Search after Truth is his first, longest and most important work; this volume also presents the Elucidations that accompanied its third edition, the result of comments that Malebranche solicited on the original work and an important repository of his theories of ideas and causation. Together, the two texts constitute the complete expression of his mature thought, and are written in his subtle, argumentative and thoroughly readable style.
E-Book Content
CAMBRIDGE TEXTS I~ THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY
NICOLAS
M:\LEBRA~CHE
The Search after Truth
CAMBRIDGE TEXTS IN THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY Series editors
KARL AMERIKS Professor ofPhilosophy at the University ofNotre Dame DESMOND M. CLARKE Professor ofPhilosophy at University College Cork The main objective of Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy is to expand the range, variety and quality of texts in the history of philosophy which are available in English. The series includes texts by familiar names (such as Descanes and Kant) and also by less wellknown authors. Wherever possible, texts are published in complete and unabridged fonn, and translations are specially commissioned for the series. Each volume contains a critical introduction together with a guide to funher reading and any necessary glossaries and textual apparatus. The volumes are designed for student use at undergraduate and postgraduate level and will be of interest not only to students of philosophy, but also to a wider audience of readers in the history of science, the history of theology and the history of ideas.
For a list oftitles published in the series, please see end ofbook.
NICOLAS MALEBRANCHE
The Search after Truth TRANSLATED AND EDITED BY
THOMAS M. LENNON University o[Wtsttm Ontario
AND
PAUL J. OLSCAMP BoiiJiing Grten Statt University
Elucidations of The Search after Truth TRANSLATED AND EDITED BY
THOMAS M. LENNON
. :·: ... CAMBRIDGE :::
UNIVERSITY PRESS
Published by the Preis Syndicate of the University of Cambriclse The Pin Buildin1, TnunpinJIOII S - , Cambriclae CB2 IRP 40 West 20ih Succt, New York, NY 10011-4211, USA 10 Stamford llold, Ollleip, Mdboume 3166, Allllnlia ~The tnt of Tile Sttmll 11/itr TI'WIII, tnnslated by '1'11onw M. Lennon and Paul J. Olsamp, is c:opyrisht Cll980 by the Ohio State University Preis. All ripb rcsen·ed. C in the editorial matter Cambridse University Praa.
First publishecll997 Printed in Great Britain at the University Press, Cambridse
Malebnndte, Nicolas, 1638-1715. (Recherche de Ia •-crite. EnsJish) The reudl after truth: with ducidations of The search after truth/ Nicolas Malebnnc:he; tnnslated and edited by Tbomas M. Lennon, Paul J. Olscamp. p. an. - (Cambridse tnb in the hislary of philc.Jphy) Includes bibliop-lphial noferences and index. I. Knowledse, Theory of. I. Lennon, Tbomas M. II. Ollamp, Paul J. Ill. Title. IV. Series.
BI893.R332ES 1997 96-23819 ap
121~c20
ISBN 0 521 SII004 8 hordbaciL ISBN 0 521 Sllfl95 9 paperbod
Contents ltttrodwtiotr Cl~nmology
Furthtr rtatlirrg Trt~rrslaton 'prtfort
The Search after Truth Preface Foreword Book One Book Two
The Senses Part One: The Imagination Part Two: The Imagination Part Three: The Contagious Communications of
p11gtvii xxiv xxvi xxviii xxxi xxxiii xlv 1 87 130 161
S~glmaginations
Book Three Part One: The Understanding; or, Pure Mind Part Two: The Pure Understanding. The Nature ofldeas Book Four The Inclinations; or, the Mind's Natural Impulses The Passions Book Five Book Six Method
197 217
<