First edition. 8vo. xxx, 205, [1] pp. Near contemporary marbled paper covered boards, spine lettered in gilt on brown paper label, red speckled edges (foxing to preliminaries and terminal leaves, with some occasional faint foxing throughout, later booklabel to front pastedown, contents otherwise unmarked; light wear to extremities, spine slightly darkened, corners only gently bumped, notwithstanding a very good copy overall). Königsberg, Friedrich Nicolvius, 1798.
One of Kant’s most important political writings, comprised of three essays published shortly after the death of King Frederick Wilhelm II, with whom he had clashed in 1793 in connection with the so-called Religious Edict of 1788, resulting in his promise not to lecture or write on theological matters. Under the premise of a treatise on the quarrels between the varying faculties of universities - in reality restricted to just the first chapter - Kant used the work to assert anew the right to academic freedom and theological disquisition, presenting to the public the correspondence that had passed between himself and the King. It also includes some of Kant’s most focused deliberations on the subjects of jurisprudence and justice, as well as touching on the natures of anarchy and revolution.
Warda, 193.
