Didactic Values of Old and New Metaphysics Cover Image

Walory dydaktyczne starej i nowej metafizyki
Didactic Values of Old and New Metaphysics

Author(s): Kazimierz Gryżenia
Subject(s): Philosophy
Published by: Towarzystwo Naukowe Franciszka Salezego (TNFS)

Summary/Abstract: Reflections in the article are based on two treatises: Commentariorum in libros Metaphysicor- um Aristotelis by Peter Fonseca, who belonged to the first generation of Jesuit philosophers, and Disputationes metaphysicae by Francisco Suarez, the main exponent of the philosophies of the Jesuits. The authors of these treatises carry out their philosophical thoughts in two different ways. The first one wrote commentaries on separate volumes of Aristotle’s Metaphysics, the second one composed homogeneous, lucid and systematic work, which became a prototype of a modern school- book named course of philosophy. Research of the structure and contents of Commentariorum in the light of teaching rules included in Ratio studiorum shows that Fonseca’s work complied with requirements of the Ratio. The author was conversant with Aristotle’s views, distinguished himself at excellent knowledge of philology: successfully combined with renaissance humanism with philo- logical exactitude. He also turned out to be a great erudite, without any impartiality. Unfortunately, despite the indisputable qualities of his work, it became the successful and commonly used educa- tional guidance neither for professors nor for students. It was due to the fact that it was too volumi- nous to read and too difficult to comprehend. In consequence, Fonseca’s work is by far less im- portant than Suarez’s Disputationes metaphysicae.

  • Issue Year: 21/2005
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 5-19
  • Page Count: 16