Rare Books Pascal The Provincial Letters, Pensees, Scientific Treatises 1977 Britannica Great Books Series Science gift books for collectors

This is a near fine (almost like new) hardcover. Encyclopedia Britannica 1977 21st Printing. This volume is like new inside and out. The inside pages are crisp and clean with no markings seen. The bindings are tight and straight, like new. Tan hardcover boards with red trim and gold lettering spine are also near fine with barely a hint of shelf wear. Medium octavo book size or 6.5" x 9.5" with 487 pages.



Great Books of the Western World by Encyclopedia Britannica was originally published in 1952 as a 54 volume set. The idea of the series was to present great books of the western world that were relevant to contemporary matters with important historical content. They were intended to be part of a conversation about great ideas and literature. They were re-issued in 1990 in a 60 volume set with some titles added and some titles left out. The idea for the series began at the University of Chicago where a course was developed with the idea of a round table approach for reading and discussing great books. The purpose was to fill the gaps in education and afford a well-rounded intellect familiar with the great works of the Western Canon along with great ideas.



Initial reception was poor but the first sets were gifted to Queen Elizabeth ll of England and President Harry Truman. Time magazine did a piece on the set featuring Mortimer J. Adler, Editor in Chief, who was integral to the university course and the subsequent set of books. Soon, the popularity of the series soared. The series features works from ancient classics to modern masterpieces.

This volume is The Provincial Letters Pensées and Scientific Treatises by Blaise Pascal. Pascal was a French philosopher, physicist and inventor. The letters are a series of 18 letters on theological philosophy Some deal with grace, some with sin, others with vice and the soul. The Pensées is a collection of essays and notes on human nature, social and theological contradictory terms. 
Scientific Treatises contains essays on Equilibrium of Liquids, The Weight of Air, Concerning the Vacuum, Geometrical Demonstration and more.

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