Two New Heuristic Instruments and the Ideal Order of Research in Medieval Philosophy

This essay proposes an ideal order of research in medieval philosophy and theology, historically exemplified, which progresses from heuristic works to critical editions to interpretive studies to, finally, translations of Latin texts into modern vernacular languages (the value of which is not unambiguous). Thereafter the essay offers reviews of two new heuristic instruments, the Repertorium initiorum manuscriptorum latinorum medii aevi, 4 volumes, by Jacqueline Hamesse assisted by Slawomir Szyller, and A Catalogue of 13th-Century Sophismata, 2 volumes, by Sten Ebbesen and Frédéric Goubier.