42. CONDORCET (Nicolas de). Esquisse d'un tableau historique - Lot 42

42. CONDORCET (Nicolas de). Esquisse d'un tableau historique des progrès de l'esprit humain. Paris, Agasse, An III (1795). In-8, viii, 389 p., fawn half-basin with smooth spine (contemporary binding). Second edition, same year as the original, of this posthumous work by Condorcet, which he wrote in hiding during the Girondins' proscription. Focusing on the "indefinite perfectibility" of humanity, he defends the idea that scientific, moral and political progress follows a linear trajectory guided by reason. Condorcet analyzes decisive advances (writing, printing, the scientific method) and obstacles (religious and feudal tyrannies), while prophesying a future society where equality between nations, social justice and universal education would triumph. Binding slightly rubbed (Monglond, 535).