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1569 · D11176 — Venice: Hieronymus Scotum Scotus 1569. Hardcover. Very Good. Folio 315 x 215mm. 2 150pp. 2. Signatures: A-I 8 K4. “Io. Grammatici” in cartouche at head of title page. Woodcut profile bust of Aristotle on title with dedication “Peripateticae Disciplina Principis Vera Aristotelis Stagiritae Effigies.” Final leaf with woodcut printer’s device of Scotus of griffin in animated cartouche head-pieces and initials throughout. Text printed in double columns. Italic and Roman type. Original limp vellum vertically ruled in brown ink to front cover; edges slightly curled minor marginal dampstaining at beginning and end otherwise clean. Near contemporary ownership inscriptions in Latin on front flyleaf mostly faded but name and order of at least two young men “Salvatoris” and “Bartolomei” are given. 19th century stamp of the Seminario Vescovile of Volterra on title. The Tuscan Jesuit Seminary dedicated to Saint Andrew employed student novices throughout its history and one would have likely used this copy. Interestingly the seminary is still active today and maintains lodgings for travelers. This copy is further enhanced by a full-page pencil doodle of a mythological composition muses putti and foliate boughs on the rear flyleaf probably completed in the seventeenth century. <br/><br/>The last 1569 Scotus edition of Philoponus’s commentary on the “Posterior Analytics” of Aristotle; an example-laden investigatory explanation on the classification of scientific knowledge Byzantine-era Philoponus’s comments on the Posterior Analytics of Aristotle are interesting especially for their metaphysical analysis of the “universal idea” – his account revealed his beliefs in Platonic forms as inherently part of the Divine Intellect. In his further reading of the Posterior Analytics Philoponus aimed to share his understanding of the concept of subordinate sciences which are sciences that can be classified by genus and species. A notion he supported was the idea that some sciences depended on “higher” ones for some of their principles – Philoponus even goes as far to suggest formulating a taxonomy of the sciences. He maintains that philosophy dialectic and all the sciences employ common axioms – regarding philosophy in particular “it discovers and demonstrates the very principles of every science.” Importantly Philoponus decided to take on this work because he thought that Aristotle’s concepts were too difficult and needed explanation. It was not the first he was indebted to the earlier work of Theophrastus and Galen but Philoponus’s work is the earliest to survive. Philoponus’s train of thought is frequently obscure and much of the discussion being carried out chooses investigatory examples over blatant argument. He wished to expound the meaning of the Aristotelian text rather than raising objections. It is clear Philoponus engages vigorously with the earlier commentators on the Posterior Analytics thus like most ancient commentaries this one maintains certain importance for the constitution of the text on which it comments. Scotus a prominent Venetian printer and elegant producer of texts was actively publishing a line of these philosophical treatises which were frequently revised and reprinted. The first Latin translation by Theodosius was published in 1539 and was reprinted frequently until 1569. This work remains important to the evolving tradition of early sixteenth century Italian university logic. Rare in North America OCLC lists holdings for this edition only at University of Oklahoma as part of the History of Science Collection. Hieronymus Scotum (Scotus) hardcover books