The correspondence between Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia and René Descartes

"Between the years 1643 and 1649, Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia (1618 80) and Rene; Descartes (1596 1650) exchanged fifty-eight letters thirty-two from Descartes and twenty-six from Elisabeth. Their correspondence contains the only known extant philosophical writings by Elisabeth, revealing her mastery of metaphysics, analytic geometry, and moral philosophy, as well as her keen interest in natural philosophy. The letters are essential reading for anyone interested in Descartes s philosophy, in particular his account of the human being as a union of mind and body, as well as his ethics. They also provide a unique insight into the character of their authors and the way ideas develop through intellectual collaboration. Philosophers have long been familiar with Descartes s side of the correspondence. Now Elisabeth s letters never before available in translation in their entirety emerge this volume, adding much-needed context and depth both to Descartes s ideas and the legacy of the princess. Lisa Shapiro s annotated edition which also includes Elisabeth s correspondence with the Quakers William Penn and Robert Barclay will be heralded by students of philosophy, feminist theorists, and historians of the early modern period"--Publisher description.

Beyond its central premise, the book can be read through the connected lenses of Philosophy. Those themes offer useful points of attention as the characters, ideas, or world develop, especially where the book complicates the expectations of its primary category.