ELECTRIC EELS, SOMNAMBULISTS, AND SENSORY DISABILITIES
[Philosophy and Religion] Plan analytique d’un ouvrage inedit ayant pour but de rattacher l’etude de la philosophie a la religion revelée. [France, Nineteenth century].
Analytical summary of an unlocated (unwritten?) work linking the study of philosophy and religion. It touches on a wide range of subjects including mysticism, bioelectricity, sensory disability, sleepwalking, and magnetism, and includes supporting references to Jansenist philosopher Victor Cousin (1792-1867).
The text is divided into three parts, each of which is dedicated to a different faculty of human knowledge. The first section is ‘le mode sensationnel’ (vol. 1), through which man engages with the world. The author is particularly interested in the ‘gymnote electrique’ (‘electric eel’, p. 59), which can strike down enemies at a distance thanks to ‘un espece de pile galvanique’ (‘a type of galvanic battery’, p. 59).
The second section of the text focuses on ‘le mode rationnel’ (vol. 2, pp. 1-12), through which man knows himself. It reflects upon sensory disability, in particular life with a hearing impairment (p. 7). Here the author quotes Victor Cousin, a late practitioner of Jansenist philosophy and religion. Cousin helped to draw attention to the work of Jacqueline Pascal, Blaise Pascal's sister, an important nun at Port-Royal whose work on the death of Christ appears in item 3.
The third section of the present work addresses ‘‘le mode intuitif’ (vol. 2, pp. 12-101), through which man sustains a relationship with God. Here the author quotes Cousin’s eloquent definition of mysticism: ‘le mysticisme consiste a substitutuer l'illumination directe a la révélation indirecte, l'extase a la raison, l'ébloutissement a la philosophie’ (‘mysticism consists of substituting direct illumination for indirect revelation, ecstasy for reason, and dazzle for philosophy’, p. 92).
Other notable content in this section includes a discussion of women, somnambulism, and magnetism (vol. 2, pp. 27-35). The two volumes are further subdivided into numbered sections (47 for volume 1 and 53 for volume 2), which are summarized at the end of each volume in a two-column outline.
Details
Manuscript. 3 parts in two volumes. Both vols. approx. 19.5 x 15 cms in binding. Vol. 1: pp. [2] 70 [12], all except 5 pages have writing. Vol. 2: pp. [2] 101 [17], all except 9 pages have writing. Written area typically c.16.5 x 12 cms, c.23 lines per page, typically in long lines but with unpaginated sections in two columns at the end of both volumes. One hand throughout. Tipped in slip to outer edge of vol. 2, p. 8 containing eight lines of additional text (minor tearing here affecting three letters). Pasted in slips, each with 9 lines of corrected text, vol. 1, pp. 41 and 42.
Bound in blue paper covers, the quires stitched with pink ribbon. White paper label to front cover of both volumes (‘Plan analytique d’une philosophie chrétienne ouvrage inedit’, with ‘premiere partie’ and ‘seconde et troisieme partiere’ underneath as appropriate).
Condition (textblock): individual quires separate, quires themselves only loosely stitched, light browning and staining. Condition (binding): Covers detached, cover edges frayed, minor stains to covers, tears especially to volume 2 cover at spine.
Provenance
- Occasional pencil underlining and brief annotations.
- Blue and white circular label (blank) to inside front cover of both volumes.
- Pencil note to verso of front free endpaper of vol. 1 (29/h).
- Formerly in the collection of Achille and Henri Moranvillé (1827-1895; 1863-1946).
- Sold we believe as part of Paris, Tessier & Sarrou, 9 February 2016, lot 16.
- Item purchased by us from an indirect source.