New Essays on Human Understanding

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New Essays on Human Understanding ("Nouveaux essais sur l'entendement humain") is a chapter-by-chapter rebuttal by Gottfried Leibniz of John Locke's major work, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. It is one of only two full-length works by Leibniz (the other being the Theodicy). Like many philosophical works of the time, it is written in dialogue form.

It was originally written in 1704, but Leibniz refrained from publishing it at that time in deference to Locke's death that same year, and it did not see print until 1764, at which time much of Leibniz's philosophy was out of favor.

The two speakers in the book are Theophilius, who represents the views of Leibniz, and Philalethe, who represents those of Locke.

[edit] External links

• Text in French on Wikisource
• ISBN 0-521-57660-1
• Review of new translation