Abstract

In this article, we have the purpose of giving start to the description ofmanuscripts that contain the philosophical work bequeathed by the Benedictine FriarGaspar da Madre de Deus (1715–1800). The work received the title Philosophiaplatonica seu cursus philosophicus, rationalem, naturalem et transnaturalemphilosophiam, sive Logicam, Physicam et Metaphysicam, complectens. After briefremarks on the life and work of Friar Gaspar da Madre de Deus and a summary reportof the state of the art with regard to the research on his thought, we offer a descriptionof the first part of his philosophical course, namely, his “Logic” or “RationalPhilosophy”. In the sequence, the article brings the Latin version of the Preface to theReader of the Philosophia platonica and a translation of it into Portuguese, as well as adetailed Table of Contents containing all divisions and subdivisions of the “RationalPhilosophy”, based on a study of the original manuscript. By so doing, we launch aseries of studies on the work of Friar Gaspar, which should eventually lead to thecritical edition of the first part of his Cursus and to a transcription of his Philosophianaturalis.