Quod studium sapientiae philosophia sit.
The Name and the Lover of Wisdom
Pythagoras first named the pursuit of wisdom 'philosophy,' calling its seekers lovers of wisdom because truth remains deeply hidden from even the most ardent mind.
Pythagoras was the first to call the pursuit of wisdom 'philosophy,' and he preferred to be called a philosopher — for before that they were called sophoi, that is, wise men. Beautifully enough, he calls the seekers of truth not wise men but lovers of wisdom, because every truth lies so deeply hidden that however much the mind burns with love for it, however much it rises up to pursue it, it can still scarcely grasp truth itself as it really is.1
Philosophy's True Object
Philosophy is the discipline concerned with things that truly are, defined as the love and friendship of a wisdom that needs nothing, is a living mind, and is the original rational principle of all things.
He established philosophy as the discipline of those things that truly are and that obtain their own unchanging substance.2 Philosophy, then, is in a certain way the love, the pursuit, and the friendship of wisdom — but not of that wisdom which is engaged with certain tools and some mechanical skill and knowledge, but of that wisdom which needs nothing, is a living mind, and the original rational principle of all things alone.3
Wisdom as Divine Friendship
The love of wisdom is the mind's illumination by pure wisdom, a drawing back and calling to itself that becomes a friendship between divinity and a pure mind, leading souls back to their proper power and purity.
This love of wisdom, moreover, is the illumination of the understanding mind by that pure wisdom, and in a way a drawing back and a calling to itself, so that the pursuit of wisdom seems to be the friendship of divinity and of a pure mind.4 This wisdom, therefore, imposes on the whole race of souls the merit of its own divinity, and leads them back to the proper power and purity of their nature.
The Fruit and the Path Forward
From this wisdom flow true contemplation and pure living, and since philosophy's excellent good has been given to human minds, the discourse now turns to the powers of the soul.
From this comes the truth of contemplation and meditation, and the holy, pure purity of our actions. Since, then, this most excellent good of philosophy has been bestowed on human minds, our discourse may proceed along the thread of the path, beginning from the very powers of the soul.5
Read the original Latin
Primus omnium Pythagoras studium sapientiae philosophiam nuncupavit, maluitque philosophos dici, nam antea sophos, id est, sapientes dicebantur. pulchre quidem inquisitores veritatis non sapientes sed amatores sapientiae vocat, quia nimirum adeo latet omne verum, ut eius amore quantumlibet mens ardeat, quantumlibet ad eius inquisitionem assurgat, difficile tamen ipsam ut est veritatem comprehendere queat. philosophiam autem earum rerum, quae vere essent suique immutabilem substantiam sortirentur, disciplinam constituit. Est autem philosophia amor et studium et amicitia quodammodo sapientiae, sapientiae vero non huius, quae in ferramentis quibusdam, et in aliqua fabrili scientia notitiaque versatur, sed illius sapientiae, quae nullius indigens, vivax mens et sola rerum primaeva ratio est. est autem hic amor sapientiae, intelligentis animi ab illa pura sapientia illuminatio, et quodammodo ad seipsam retractio atque advocatio, ut videatur sapientiae studium divinitatis et purae mentis illius amicitia. haec igitur sapientia cuncto animarum generi meritum suae divinitatis imponit, et ad propriam naturae vim puritatemque reducit. hinc nascitur speculationum cogitationumque veritas, et sancta puraque actuum castimonia. quoniam vero humanis animis hoc excellentissimum bonum philosophiae comparatum est, ut viae filo quodam procedat oratio, ab ipsis animae efficientiis ordiendum est.
Notes
- 1 ↩nimirum rendered 'because...' linking the causal chain; the double quantumlibet/adeo construction emphasizes the mind's passionate striving against the hiddenness of truth.
- 2 ↩sortirentur (passive of sortior) rendered 'that obtain' — the sense is that philosophy concerns things that truly exist and are allotted their own immutable substance.
- 3 ↩primaeva ratio rendered 'original rational principle' — the sense is the primordial, self-sufficient rational order of reality, not dependent on craft or technique.
- 4 ↩retractio atque advocatio rendered 'a drawing back and a calling to itself' — these rare abstract nouns suggest the soul's reflective turn inward toward divine wisdom.
- 5 ↩efficientiis (ablative plural) rendered 'powers' — a rare philosophical term for the active powers or efficient causes within the soul.
Didascalicon de Studio Legendi (On the Study of Reading) companion
Hugh said begin with small daily portions. Start tomorrow.
Chosen Portion serves one short, ordered devotional reading each day — the medieval lectio pattern, free on iOS.
Hugh taught that formation comes from ordered, incremental daily reading, and Chosen Portion is that ordered daily portion delivered to your phone.
- A curated daily portion in 2-3 minutes, no decision fatigue about what to read
- Progress through complete historic works in order, the way Hugh prescribed
- Free app plus a weekly email unpacking one reading in depth