Suárez’s Psychology
In 1572 Francisco Suarez lectured in Segovia on questions related to Aristotle's De anima , which largely defined the scope of teaching psychology in sixteenth-century universities. This chapter follows the 1572 text (C) and also gives references to the 1621 version (A). SSuarez also deals with questions pertaining to philosophical psychology in some parts of the Disputationes metaphysicae and in his theological commentary on Thomas Aquinas's Summa theologiae . In fact, Aristotle and Aquinas are the most quoted authors in Suarez's psychological works. The Jesuit usually points out when he is deviating from their views, and he often seeks harmonising interpretations, although some of his basic insights, such as the theory of non-causal psychological connections, go in another direction. Duns Scotus is one of the sources for his non-Thomist views, though Suarez is familiar with a great number of medieval and early modern theological, philosophical, and even medical works. Keywords: Aristotle; Francisco Suarez; Jesuit; philosophical psychology