Reunion of 2 classic works by Mably, in 4 bound volumes: - Lot 32

Reunion of 2 classic works by Mably, in 4 bound volumes: 1. MABLY (Abbé Gabriel Bonnot de): Entretiens de Phocion, sur le rapport de la morale avec la politique ; traduits du grec de Nicoclès, avec des remarques. New edition. Amsterdam, 1767. One volume. 9.5 by 16.5 cm. XXXVI-248 pages. Contemporary full calf, ornate smooth spine, red title page, filleted edges. Very good condition. The first edition dates from 1763. "Mably remains one of the most important social critics and moralizing utopians of the Enlightenment [...]. In 1763, he published the Entretiens de Phocion. He saw in the passions the origin of all the evils of humanity; under their empire, we forget the public interest and virtue that reason commands us to love [...]. Like Rousseau and Helvétius, Mably saw the multiplication of needs as the cause of inequality and social passions. To open the path to virtue and happiness for men, morality must reduce their needs." (Hist. Gén. du socialisme I-p. 143-144). 2. MABLY (Abbé Gabriel Bonnot de): Le droit public de l'Europe, fondé sur les traités. Troisième édition revûe, corrigée & augmentée. Genève, Compagnie des Libraires, 1764. 3 volumes. 9.5 by 16.5 cm. XII-525-(1); III-(1)-563-(1); III-(1)-507-(1) pages. Contemporary full speckled calf, ornate smooth spine, red title page, black tomaison, double fillet on edges. One spine slightly damaged, old restoration at the bottom of the spine of volume II, small leather loss on the 2nd cover of volume II, small rubbing on the upper cover of volume I. Nevertheless, a very decent copy. The original edition dates from 1746. Mably "devoted several works to questions of world politics, relations between peoples, what was known at the time as the law of nations, whose foundations he renewed. [...] Du droit public de l'Europe (1746) [...] is his great work, the core of his thinking, and one to which he returned again and again." (F. Gauthier, AHRF, 2003, n° 1, pp. 173-174).