Philosophia universalis

Jean-Baptiste du Hamel (1624-1706) was not only a famous orator but a philosopher, mathematician, astronomer, theologian, exegete and historian. At Colbert’s suggestion he was appointed secretary to the Paris Academy of Sciences in 1666. It was Colbert too who encouraged him to write the comprehensive Philosophia vetus et nova reprinted in this edition. Wolff makes frequent references to this fundamental account and cites many of du Hamel’s definitions. Thus a detailed knowledge of the Philosophia vetus et nova can cast light on certain important aspects of Wolff’s metaphysics.