[Manuscript] - Institutiones Philosophicae - 1750

PHILOSOPHY – LOGIC – NATURAL LAW – JESUIT COURSE – HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT CA. 18th CENTURY

Philosophical Institutes – handwritten manuscript on logic, metaphysics, epistemology, and natural law.

Latin manuscript, Europe (probably a Catholic college / Jesuit milieu), ca. 1750–1780

Extensive, neatly written philosophical manuscript in Latin, offering a complete introductory course to early modern scholastic philosophy: from logic (concepts, judgments, inferences, types of proof) through the theory of the senses and knowledge to metaphysical questions and natural-law principles. Chapter headings such as ‘Logica’, ‘De variis sensibus’ or ‘De oppositione propositionum’ show that this is a classic scholastic course in philosophy, structured step by step as in instruction at a college.

The manuscript employs clearly delineated “Propositiones”, “Dubia” and counterarguments, as is customary in Jesuit and college philosophy: a proposition is stated, objections are formulated (“Objicitur…”), then the answer follows (“Respondeo…”). In the natural-law section, it is explained, for example, that certain principles of action are instilled by the Creator into the nature of man and are therefore universally binding – a typical motif of Catholic natural-law doctrine of the 18th century.

Bound in a contemporary parchment volume with only light signs of use; the block is firm, the paper largely clean with only slight browning at the edges and occasional small signs of wear. The ink is well legible, without strong bleed-through, the script even and practiced – evidently the work of a trained scribe or a very good student. A revealing document on the history of philosophy teaching at Catholic schools and universities. The manuscript comprises 304 pages.