Benedictus Pererius and the Ordo Doctrinae. Lessons and Texts in the First Jesuits’ Philosophy

Abstract

Contrary to a long-lasting caricature, which depicted the Jesuits as prone followers of the pedagogical dictate of Aristotle, the Jesuits were among the firsts to challenge his established order of books and questions. In the second half of the Sixteenth century, some Jesuit professors of philosophy, such as Benet Perera, the Coimbrans, and Francisco Suárez, consistently and purportedly modified the traditional order of discipline for dealing with philosophical issues, according the rational order of doctrine. In particular, this paper presents the case of Benet Perera, by following his pedagogical paths both in classes and published writings.