Johann Heinrich Alsted, Jan Amos Comenius, encyclopaedism, pansophism, metaphysics, philosophy of nature, universal reform

Huius dissertationis scopus est, J. H. Alstedii (1588–1638), theologi ac philosophi Calviniani, opus encyclopaedicum praesentare inquisitionique subicere, inquantum scil. pro uno ex fontibus “pansophismi”, quem J. A. Comenius (1592–1670), philosophus, theologus, rerumque paedagogicarum reformator Bohemicus, confinxit, teneri liceat. Quapropter auctor primo ortum, evolutionem, dispositionemque Alstedii operae en- cyclopaedicae, praecipue vero eius maturae ac magnificae Encyclopaediae septem tomis distinctae, quae a. 1630 prelo prodiit, breviter describit. In principali dissertationis parte deinde auctor Alstedii et Comenii conceptiones metaphysiciae, physicae, aliarumque disciplinarum, quibus ambo studebant, inter se comparat. Auctor concludit, Alstedium sine dubio in Comenium influxum habuisse saltem quoad nomenclaturam materiae - que dispositionem. Praeterea, ambo viri docti in philosophia sua naturali magna ex parte innixi sunt physica Mosaica, ut aiunt, et ambo etiam metaphysicae inter ceteras scientias primitatem ascribere voluerint: non solum dignitatis, sed etiam in ordine sciendi ac docendi.

The paper aims to introduce the encyclopaedic project presented by the reformed phi- losopher and theologian Johann Heinrich Alsted (1588–1638) and study it as one of the possible sources of the pansophism of the Czech philosopher, theologian and educa- tional reformer Jan Amos Comenius (1592–1670). For this reason, the author first briefly describes the genesis, development and structure of Alsted’s encyclopaedic work with a special focus on his mature and monumental Encyclopaedia septem tomis distincta (1630). The crucial part of the paper is devoted to comparing Alsted’s and Comenius’s concep- tions of metaphysics, physics (or philosophy of nature) and other important fields of their shared interest. The author concludes that Comenius was undoubtedly influenced by Alsted in structural and terminological matters; furthermore, that both Alsted and Comenius inclined to base their philosophy of nature on so-called Mosaic physics and tended to understand metaphysics as a primary science not only in view of its dignity, but also with regard to its place in the system of sciences and in the curriculum.