Delineatio scenographica

Templi pansophici delineatio scenographica omnia ejus interiora summatim depingens

A model outline of the pansophic temple, drawn in a summary of all its inner fittings

Origin of the work:
  1643 Elbląg

Editions:
  1957 Prague, in: Archiv pro bádání o životě a díle J. A. Komenského (Acta Comeniana) 16, no. 2, pp127-134

1974 Prague, J. A. Comenii Opera omnia, vol. 14

Contents:

This is a fragment of a discussion on the necessity for, potential of and simplicity of pansophy. It is related to the Pansophiae diatyposis (Outline of Pansophy). This text was found in the Hartlib effects in the form of a copy of the original manuscript by an unknown hand (Samuel Hartlib).

The fragment comprises two parts. In the first (the foreword), Comenius relates that having published his Templi Pansophici Ichnographiae et orthographiae delineatio (Plan and Outline of the Features of the Pansophic Temple) he must say that which Seneca said to Lucilius: I do not want more of you, than you are capable of with effort. The foundations laid by you occupy many places. Finish only that which you have attempted, and explain what you intended.

In the second part, headed Pansophiae Templi propylaeum seu Vestibulum (The Propylaeum or Vestibule of the Temple of Pansophy), he proclaims, providing justifications, that pansophy is necessary, possible and easy. It is necessary because all those born as people should aspire to wisdom, in order that they might show that they are people and not unreasoning brutes, that likewise they are gifted with undying souls, and that likewise they have been released into the common theatre of the world. It is possible because God wishes that all which is in this life be known. It is this necessary to learn and to teach all that He gave us in writing in His books. That all should learn and that all should be learnt in completeness is simple, because God created things (the world) and a mirror of things (the world) – our intellect, giving it mutual proportionality so that all things reflect their ability to be comprehended.

For further study, see also:

J. A. Comenii Opera omnia, vol. 14. Prague 1974, pp262-266

G. H. Turnbull, Komenského Pansophiae diatyposis a její pokračování. In: Archiv pro bádání o životě a díle J. A. Komenského (Acta Comeniana) 16, 1957, no. 2, pp147-149