Descartes' correspondence to Elizabeth

About the book: The correspondence of Elizabeth and Descartes is an interesting mix that includes a collective history and an autobiography, as well as deep philosophical comments that illuminate it. The importance of Princess Elizabeth's letters to her friend Descartes arises from the fact that her questions to the philosopher sparked his thinking more seriously, and made him delve into the study of ethics, emotions, and politics. By tracing the letters, one finds that seven years of correspondence led to the development of their relationship, enriching it, as it transitioned from attraction to acquaintance, to mutual admiration, and finally to friendship, even though it came late in Descartes' life, and early in Elizabeth's life, as she was approximately twenty-four years old, and despite that, it seemed that the age difference was hardly noticeable. Moreover, perhaps the most important feature of these correspondences is that they provide a philosophical document through which the beginning of this princess's philosophical interest can be understood. Prepared, introduced, and translated by: Nawal Taha Yasin / Ibtisam Khadra. Number of pages: 197. Year of publication: 2019. Edition number: First.