Common Logical Fallacies Explained in Latin
When we talk about bad arguments, manipulation, or faulty reasoning, Latin appears just as often—though usually in a more confrontational way. Terms like ad hominem, post hoc, or non sequitur
Much of the medieval world reaches us not through modern books, but through handwritten manuscripts. These fragile objects—copied by hand, annotated, corrected, and preserved over centuries—are the primary witnesses of medieval history, literature, theology, and intellectual life. To read them is to encounter the past in its most direct and material form.
Reading medieval manuscripts, however, requires more than historical curiosity. It demands two complementary skills: a working knowledge of Latin and the ability to recognize and interpret medieval scripts. While Latin provides access to the language of the texts themselves, paleography teaches us how that language appears on the page—through unfamiliar letterforms, dense abbreviation systems, and scripts that differ radically from modern print.
The Medieval Manuscripts course was created to bring these skills together in a practical and accessible way. Rather than focusing on abstract or highly technical paleography, the course is designed as a reading laboratory: a hands-on space where students learn by reading real manuscripts, one page at a time. Each lesson centers on an authentic historical document, guiding students through the process of deciphering scripts, expanding abbreviations, and translating the Latin text to ensure full understanding.
Over the course of the program, students progressively learn to read the major scripts of the Latin manuscript tradition, including Roman bookhands, Carolingian minuscule, Gothic script, and Humanistic hands. Texts increase gradually in difficulty, allowing learners to build confidence while developing effective reading strategies. Students also learn how to navigate digitized manuscript libraries and how to approach unfamiliar material independently.
A basic knowledge of Latin is recommended, since we work with selected passages and practice translation to support comprehension. For this reason, students are encouraged to complete Latin I: First Steps and Latin II: Foundations, or to possess an equivalent level of reading competence. The combination of Latin study and manuscript reading allows learners to move beyond modern editions and translations and engage directly with historical sources.
By the end of the course, medieval manuscripts no longer appear as opaque artifacts, but as readable texts. Students gain the skills needed to approach primary sources with confidence—transforming the study of the Middle Ages from second-hand interpretation into a first-hand encounter with the written past.
When we talk about bad arguments, manipulation, or faulty reasoning, Latin appears just as often—though usually in a more confrontational way. Terms like ad hominem, post hoc, or non sequitur
When we talk about logic and argumentation, we often use Latin without noticing. Expressions like ergō, ā priori, or prima facie appear in philosophy, law, academic writing, and even everyday