[DIDEROT (Denis) Pensées sur l'interprétation de la nature S.l., 1754. In-12, tan calf, smooth ornate spine, interior gilt roulette, red edges (period binding). Adams II, PE2, p. 292. Second-issue first edition, dated 1754, of this essay by Denis Diderot, published anonymously. A first version appeared in November 1753, with the title "Sur l'interprétation de la nature", now almost impossible to find. This is a collection of reflections and proposals that follow on from the "Pensées philosophiques" published in 1746. "Diderot observes phenomena, according to the principles of experimental physics, and wonders how to interpret them" (BNF site). According to Charly Guyot: "Les Pensées sur l'interprétation de la nature" (Thoughts on the interpretation of nature) are first and foremost a methodology of the sciences, in which the author, with perhaps excessive assurance, suggests that, if our knowledge is still so uncertain, if "the sciences have made so little progress", the fault lies with the abstract sciences which "have occupied the best minds for too long". The future lies in 'experimental philosophy'" (Charly Guyot, in: "Diderot", Seuil, 1978). This edition is based on the 1753 edition, but with a number of changes: the epistle "Aux jeunes gens Qui se disposent à l'étude de la Philosophie naturelle" (To young people who are prepared to study natural philosophy) has been added, as has a leaf on pages 205-206 containing the "Observations sur un endroit du feuillet 89 verso" (Observations on a section of page 89 verso). The most extensive reworking is between pages 73 and 101, with Adams pointing out that "as this edition underwent many changes during printing, not all copies are necessarily identical". This copy has boxes on pages 3-4, 51-52, leaves, 88, 89, 97, 145-146 and 173-174. Small tear to head cover, otherwise a very well preserved copy.