The Coimbra Aristotelian Course, commonly known as the “Coimbra Course”, stands as an important initiative undertaken by the Coimbra Jesuit School. It was published between 1592 and 1606 with the aim of facilitating the instruction and study of Aristotelian philosophy at both the College of the Arts in Coimbra and the University of Évora.
The publication was carried out over three periods. Between 1592 and 1593 the following commentaries emerged:
- Physica, De Caelo, Metereologica, Parva naturalia e Ethica ad Nichomacum: Commentarii Collegii Conimbricensis Societatis Jesu in octo libros Physicorum Aristotelis Stagyritae (Coimbra, A. Mariz, 1592);
- Commentarii Collegii Conimbricensis Societatis Iesu in quattuor libros De Coelo Aristotelis Stagiritae (Lisboa: S.Lopes, 1593);
- Commentarii Collegii Conimbricensis S. I. in libros Metereororum Aristotelis Stagiritae (Lisboa: S. Lopes, 1593);
- Commentarii Collegii Conimbricensis S. I. in libros Aristotelis qui Parva Naturalia appellantur (Lisboa: S. Lopes, 1593);
- In libros Ethicorum Aristotelis ad Nicomachum aliquot Conimbricensis Cursus disputationes, in quibus praecipua quaedam Ethicae disciplinae capita continentur (Lisboa: S. Lopes, 1593).
During the second phase, the School published commentaries on De Generatione (1597) and De Anima (1598):
- Commentarii Collegii Conimbricensis S. I. in duos libros de generatione et corruptione Aristotelis Stagiritae (Coimbra: A. Mariz, 1597);
- Commentarii Collegii Conimbricensis S. I. in tres libros De anima Aristotelis Stagiritae (Coimbra: A. Mariz, 1598).
The final volume was released in 1606: Commentarii Collegii Conimbricensis S. I. in universam Dialecticam Aristotelis (Coimbra: D. G. Loureiro, 1606).
Originated from printers in Coimbra and Lisbon, the Coimbra Course evolved organically fashion and became widely used by colleges and universities within and beyond the Society of Jesus. Its influence extended far beyond Europe, reaching America and even the Orient, including regions like India and China. Its international impact and profound influence on the configuration of modern philosophical thought, shaping the ideas of figures such as Descartes, Leibniz, Espinoza, Locke, Hobbes, Marx, and Peirce, underscore the urgency of making the text finally available to 21st century readers through its first complete translation.
The project comprises a team of over 30 researchers from various research centres specialising in different fields within CECH (Greek, Latin, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, and Philosophy). This interdisciplinary collaboration combines philological and philosophical studies.