Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy: Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle Observations upon Experimental Philosophy

Jul 6, 2026

A critical Cambridge edition of Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle’s Observations upon Experimental Philosophy, framed within the Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy series. The material explains the series’ purpose of expanding high-quality, English-available philosophical texts, typically including full unabridged versions, commissioned translations, critical introductions, glossaries, and guides to further reading. The document outlines publication information, edition acknowledgments, abbreviations, and a detailed contents structure spanning introduction, chronology, and the main treatise and observations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages338

Reading Time14 h 12 min

Contents

Acknowledgments

List of abbreviations

Introduction

Chronology

Further reading

Note on the text

Observations upon Experimental Philosophy

The Preface to the Ensuing Treatise

An Argumental Discourse

The Table of All the Principal Subjects

Further Observations upon Experimental Philosophy

Observations upon the Opinions of Some Ancient Philosophers

Glossary

Index

CAMBRIDGE TEXTS IN THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY MARGARET CAVENDISH, DUCHESS OF NEWCASTLE Observations upon Experimental Philosophy CAMBRIDGE TEXTS IN THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY Series editors KARL AMERIK S Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame DESMOND M . CLARKE Professor of Philosophy at University College Cork The main objective of Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy is to expand the range, variety and quality of texts in the history of philosophy which are available in English. The series includes texts by familiar names (such as Descartes and Kant) and also by less well-known authors. Wherever possible, texts are published in complete and unabridged form, and translations are specially commissioned for the series. Each volume contains a critical introduction together with a guide to further reading and any necessary glossaries and textual apparatus. The volumes are designed for student use at undergraduate and post-graduate level and will be of interest not only to students of philosophy, but also to a wider audience of readers in the history of science, the history of theology and the history of ideas. For a list of titles published in the series, please see end of book. MARGARET CAVENDISH, DUCHESS OF NEWCASTLE Observations upon Experimental Philosophy 􀀁􀀂􀀃 􀀄􀀁􀀂 􀀅􀀆 EILEEN O’NEILL University of Massachusetts, Amherst PUBLISHED BY CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS (VIRTUAL PUBLISHING) FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE PRESS SYNDICATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 IRP 40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011-4211, USA 477 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne, VIC 3207, Australia [http://www.cambridge.org](http://www.cambridge.org) © Cambridge University Press 2001 This edition © Cambridge University Press (Virtual Publishing) 2003 First published in printed format 2001 A catalogue record for the original printed book is available from the British Library and from the Library of Congress Original ISBN 0 521 77204 4 hardback Original ISBN 0 521 77675 9 paperback ISBN 0 511 01365 5 virtual (netLibrary Edition) Contents Acknowledgments List of abbreviations Introduction Chronology Further reading Note on the text Observations upon Experimental Philosophy To Her Grace the Duchess of Newcastle To His Grace the Duke of Newcastle To the Most Famous University of Cambridge The Preface to the Ensuing Treatise To the Reader An Argumental Discourse The Table of All the Principal Subjects Observations upon Experimental Philosophy Further Observations upon Experimental Philosophy Observations upon the Opinions of Some Ancient Philosophers Glossary Index page vi viii xxxxvii xlii xlv 􀀘 􀀙 􀀖 􀀚 􀀜 􀀘􀀘 􀀕􀀙 􀀖􀀙 􀀖􀀚 􀀘􀀞􀀝 􀀕􀀖􀀞 􀀕􀀜􀀚 􀀕􀀛􀀘 Acknowledgments Desmond Clarke was not only the ‘‘proximate’’ cause that triggered my work on this edition, he was an ‘‘auxiliary’’ cause, aiding the ‘‘primary and sustaining’’ cause to the very end. I’m indebted to him for his sound advice and invaluable critical comments. I’d also like to thank Hilary Gaskin of Cambridge University Press for countless judicious suggestions. Peggy McKinnon did a remarkable job of swiftly and accurately keying in the unedited version of Cavendish’s text. Edward Abrams provided research and computer assistance; Sylvia Howes handled numerous clerical and administrative matters. Few research projects can get oﬀ the ground without funding: for that I’m deeply grateful to Frederick Byron and Lee Edwards of the University of MassachusettsAmherst. I’ve received valuable help from the librarians Richard Talbot, Jim Kelly, Susan Mathew, Mel Carlson, and MJ Canavan, the Interlibrary Loan Oﬃce and Microﬁlm Department of my home institution, the staﬀ of the British Library, and the staﬀs of the rare book rooms at Harvard University, Smith College, Amherst College, the University of Pennsylvania, and the New York Public Library. Part of the Intro

FAQs

What is the aim of the Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy series described in the document?

The series aims to expand the range, variety, and quality of history of philosophy texts available in English, often publishing complete and unabridged versions with commissioned translations and supporting scholarly apparatus.

Who is credited with contributing to or supporting the preparation of this edition?

Desmond Clarke is highlighted as a key cause for the work, along with editors, Cambridge University Press staff, research and administrative assistants, librarians, and multiple scholars who provided feedback and written comments.

Which sections are listed in the table of contents for the work?

The contents include acknowledgments, abbreviations, introduction, chronology, further reading, note on the text, and multiple parts of Observations upon Experimental Philosophy, followed by glossary and index.

Jul 6, 2026

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