PREFACE

...ith. Indeed, having carefully surveyed and weighed all things, I have decided to traverse all the schools of philosophers, both ancient and more recent. My plan is first to sufficiently describe each school’s origin, progress, and end—if indeed they reached an end—recounting their principal followers in order. Then, having explained their doctrine original: "doctrina." as briefly as possible, I will demonstrate—through a dissertation attached to each school concerning a specific major chapter of church history original: "historiae ecclesiasticae."—what benefit or harm flowed from them into the church.

     This very introduction to the history of the philosophy of the Hebrews original: "philosophiae Hebraeorum.", which we now place before the readers' eyes, can serve as a sample. For by the same rule and method—if God favors my undertakings and grants strength of mind and body, along with other necessities for this work—I have resolved to treat the remaining schools of philosophers.

     Indeed, my mind is inclined to deal with the philosophy of the Chaldeans, Arabs, Phoenicians, Egyptians, and Indians, as well as the Greeks and Romans; in fact, I intend to cover all other nations that have placed a value on the cultivation of a sound mind original: "bonae menti pretium statuerunt." A classical idiom referring to the pursuit of wisdom and intellectual virtue.. Since there were so many schools of Greek philosophy, the rules of the project to which we have bound ourselves will require us to explain them individually. For those which...