Between Rome and Coimbra: A Preliminary Survey of two Early Jesuit Psychologies (Benet Perera and the Coimbra Course)

Abstract

Benet Perera was not the first Jesuit to comment Aristotle’s De Anima. In Portugal there was already the tradition of doing it, and the so-called Coimbra Course may be seen as the culmination of such a tradition. Moreover, its approach to philosophy is also different from Perera’s. This paper first of all focuses on the place of scientia de anima, the importance physics has in such a science, and the division of metaphysics (according to Perera) or its unity (according to Coimbra). Secondly, it is stated that if Perera could have taken sides with a theological anthropology, Góis (the main author of the Coimbra Course) took a different approach. Lastly, when discussing the immortality of the soul Perera and Álvares (the author of the appendix related to this particular topic) differ over the weight of human capacities in duly evidencing immortality.