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Abbe Guinot: Teaching Logic during the 18th Century to Increase Scientific Abilities



Author(s)

Olivier Perru

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DOI:10.17265/2159-5313/2015.06.005

In 1778, Abbe Guinot, a priest native of Lorraine and professor in the seminary of Toul, published in Nancy the two volumes of his philosophical lectures, whose subtitle is “On Logic.” This concerns a general philosophy of knowledge and a critic of philosophical systems. Guinot is interested in science and natural discoveries. He describes the organization of institutional science and appreciates the progress of sciences but he makes a distinction between scientific progress and philosophers’ sophisms that he criticizes. In order to favor science and avoid philosophical errors, logic is essential in students’ training. According to Guinot, logic allows us to extend our intellectual abilities, uplift our ideas, help our thought processes, and mature our reflection. However, this logic refers to the great book of nature written in mathematical language. Guinot thinks that scientific experiment is of the highest importance for accuracy of mind. This logic lecture is inspired by Aristotle but above all by Port-Royal Logic. It gives a place to Locke empiricism and it favors development of sciences. Abbe Guinot was a chaplain in the cathedral of Nancy; he emigrated in 1791. He came back in France during the Consulate and he died a few time later.

logic, 18th century, education, Port-Royal Logic