THE DEBATE ON NATURAL LAW: PUFENDORF'S THEORIES

1. Pufendorf, Samuel. De Jure Naturae et Gentium, Libri octo. Cum integris Commentariis Virorum Clarissimorum Jo. Nicolai Hertii atque Joannis Barbeyraci [...]. Francofurti & Lipsiae, Ex Officina Knochiana, 1744.

[bound with:]

2. Pufendorf, Samuel. Eris Scandica, qua adversus libros de iure naturali et gentium obiecta diluntur. [s.l., s.t.], 1743.

3 works bound in 2 volumes, 4to (245x194 mm), full stiff vellum, sepia ink handwritten title and volume number at spine, edges sprayed in red ink, cloth bookmark, pp. [6], XXXIX, [1], 854, [2, blank] at first volume, pp. [2], 500, [28], 372, [4] at second. Red and black titlepages, portrait of the author engraved at frontispiece, chalcographic vignette at titlepage.

Very rare edition of Pufendorf's theories on Natural Law.

In State and Nature Laws , Pufendorf presents his theory on natural sociability of men, that, in opposition to Hobbes theory, guides them to accept a set of rules given by God, leading to Constitutions written by men. According to that, the treatise seems to be a kind of justification of absolutism.

Samuel Von Pufendorf (Dorfchemnits, 1632-Berlin, 1694), German philosopher and theologian, follower of the doctrine of natural law by Ugo Grozio, focused on harmonizing the first enlightenment thinking to the Cristian theology.

References: 1. OCLC 730119604. 2. OCLC 83159965: only two copies in USA (Yale and University of Michigan Law Library).

Uniform, usual brownings due to the paper's quality and some small stains; overall, a good copy.