PREFACE.

...was conscientiously preparing for this task, and even published a prospectus A printed document describing a forthcoming book to attract subscribers. for a first volume at the beginning of his second work; but war broke out, followed by the author's premature death in October 1870, and his project was abandoned. Shortly thereafter, the studies of Mr. Louis Liard on Cartesian philosophy The philosophy of René Descartes, named after the Latinized version of his name, "Cartesius.", while he was a professor at the Faculty of Letters in Bordeaux (1874-1880), convinced him more than anyone of the necessity of a new edition, and in concert with Mr. Paul Tannery, then an engineer in Bordeaux, he considered producing it: the Descartes that he published in 1882 remains a lasting testament to these early labors. But starting in 1884, the Directorate of Higher Education at the Ministry of Public Instruction The French government body overseeing schools and universities. imposed other duties upon Mr. Liard, and from then on he devoted himself entirely to bringing the great work to which he was dedicated to fruition: the reorganization of the Universities in France.

However, the third centenary The 300th anniversary of his birth (1596–1896). of the birth of Descartes was approaching; it could be celebrated no better than by an edition of his Works. Mr. Émile Boutroux announced this in the Review of Metaphysics and Morals original: "Revue de Métaphysique et de Morale" on May 15, 1894; and the zealous Director of this Review, Mr. Xavier Léon, immediately became the project's promoter. Mr. Paul Tannery was increasingly the designated collaborator, especially for the scientific portion: the new edition of the Works of Fermat Pierre de Fermat (1601–1665), a French mathematician famous for his work in number theory., to which he had just attached his name along with Mr. Charles Henry, had notably engaged him in deep research regarding the Correspondence of Descartes and that of Mersenne Marin Mersenne (1588–1648), a monk and mathematician who acted as the central hub for scientific correspondence in Europe during Descartes' time.. Mr. Charles Adam, after more than ten years of study on the history of philosophy in France in the first half of the 17th century, was well acquainted with the philosophical portion of Descartes’ Works. He spent part of the year 1894 conducting research, under an official mission, in the libraries of the Netherlands and Hanover, and he returned with numerous and important finds. In the month of November, a Committee was

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