Ordinatio
John Duns Scotus (1266–1308)
John Duns Scotus's Ordinatio (also called the Opus Oxoniense) is his revised, authorially prepared commentary on Peter Lombard's Sentences. Scotus began arranging it for publication around 1300 after lecturing at Oxford and continued revising material associated with Paris until his death in 1308; the work therefore remains unfinished and textually layered. Its disputations on God, creation, individuation, freedom, grace, and the Incarnation helped establish Scotism as a major alternative within late-medieval scholastic theology. Schola uses the Vatican critical-edition tradition for the Latin and a separately sourced English translation.
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Prologus I: Prologus Totius Operis
Pars I: Pars 1 - On the Necessity of Revealed Doctrine
Quaestio I: Single Question: On the Necessity of Revealed Doctrine - Whether it be necessary for man in this present state for some doctrine to be supernaturally inspired
Articulus I: 1. Controversy between Philosophers and Theologians
Section I: A. Opinion of the Philosophers
Section II: B. Rejection of the Opinion of the Philosophers
Articulus II: II. Solution of the Question
Articulus III: III. About the Three Principal Reasons against the Philosophers
Articulus IV: IV. To the Arguments of the Philosophers
Articulus V: V. To the Principal Arguments
Pars II: Pars 2 - On the Sufficiency of Revealed Doctrine
Quaestio I: Single Question: On the Sufficiency of Revealed Doctrine Whether the supernatural knowledge necessary for the wayfarer is sufficiently handed on in Sacred Scripture.
Articulus I: I. On the Truth of Sacred Scripture
Articulus II: II. Principal Response to the Question
Articulus III: III. To the Principal Arguments
Pars III: Pars 3 - On the Object of Theology
Quaestio I: Question 1: Whether theology is about God as about its first object.
Quaestio II: Question 2: Whether Theology is about God under some Special Idea
Quaestio III: Question 3: Whether Theology is about All Things from the Attribution of them to its First Subject
Articulus I: I. Preliminary Remarks
Articulus II: II. About Necessary Theology
Section I: A. To the First Question, speaking of Theology in itself
Section II: B. To the Second Question, speaking of Theology in itself
Section III: C. To the First Question, speaking of Our Theology
Articulus III: III. On Contingent Theology
Articulus IV: IV. On Christ as First Object
Articulus V: V. To the Principal Arguments of the First Question
Articulus VI: VI. To the principal Arguments of the Second Question
Articulus VII: VI. To the Third Question
Section I: A. Opinion of Others
Section II: B. Scotus’ own Response
Articulus VIII: VII. To the principal Arguments of the Third Question
Pars IV: Pars 4 - On Theology as a Science
Quaestio I: Questions 1 and 2 - Whether theology in itself is a science, and whether it is subalterning or subalternate
Articulus I: I. To the First Question
Articulus II: II. To the Second Question
Pars V: Pars 5 - On Theology insofar as it is a Practical Science
Quaestio I: Question 1 - Whether theology is a practical or a speculative science
Quaestio II: Question 2 - Whether a science is called practical per se from order to action as to its end
Articulus I: I. What Action [Praxis] is
Articulus II: II. How Practical Knowledge is Extended to Action
Articulus III: III. From what Source Knowledge has Extension to Action
Articulus IV: IV. To the Second Question
Articulus V: V. To the First Question
Section I: A. The Opinion of Others
Section II: B. Scotus’ own Opinion
Articulus VI: VI. To the Principal Arguments of the First Question.
Articulus VII: VII. To the Principal Arguments of the Second Question
Book 1
Distinctio I: First Distinction
Pars I: First Part - On the Object of Enjoyment
Quaestio I: Question 1: Whether the object of enjoyment per se is the ultimate end
Articulus I: I. To the Question
Tractatus I: II. To the Principal Arguments
Quaestio II: Question 2 - Whether the ultimate end has only the one idea of enjoyability
Articulus I: I. To the Question
Section I: A. On the Enjoyment of the Wayfarer as to its Possibility
Section II: B. On the Enjoyment of the Comprehender when Speaking of the Absolute Power of God
Section III: C. On the Enjoyment of the Comprehender when Speaking of the Power of the Creature
Section IV: D. On the Enjoyment of the Comprehender and of the Wayfarer when Speaking of the Fact
Articulus II: II. To the Arguments
Section I: A. To the Principal Arguments
Section II: B. To the Reasons for the Opposite
Pars II: Second Part - On Enjoying in Itself
Quaestio I: Question 1 - Whether enjoying is an act elicited by the will or a passion received in the will
Articulus I: I. To the Question
Articulus II: II. To the Principal Arguments
Quaestio II: Question 2 - Whether when the end has been apprehended by the intellect the will must necessarily enjoy it
Articulus I: I. To the Question
Section I: A. The Opinion of Others
Section II: B. Attack on the Opinion of Others
Section III: C. Scotus’ Own Opinion
Section IV: D. To the Arguments for the Opinion of Others
Articulus II: II. To the Principal Arguments
Pars III: On the Enjoyer
Quaestio I: Whether Enjoying Belongs to God
Quaestio II: Whether the Wayfarer Enjoys
Quaestio III: Whether the Sinner Enjoys
Quaestio IV: Whether the Brutes Enjoy
Quaestio V: Whether All Things Enjoy
Articulus I: I. To the Questions Together
Articulus II: II. To the Principal Arguments
Distinctio II: Second Distinction
Pars I: First Part - On the Existence of God and his Unity
Quaestio I: Question 1 - Whether among beings there is something existing actually infinite
Quaestio II: Question 2 - Whether something infinite is known self-evidently
Articulus I: I. To the Second Question
Articulus II: II. To the Principal Arguments of the Second Question
Articulus III: III. To the First Question
Section I: A. The Existence of the Relative Properties of an Infinite Being is Made Clear
Section II: B. The Existence of an Infinite Being is Made Clear
Subsection I: 1. Conclusions preliminary to infinity are proposed and demonstrated
Subsection II: 2. The infinity of God is proved directly
Articulus IV: IV. To the Principal Arguments of the First Question
Quaestio III: Question 3 - Whether there is only one God
Articulus I: I. To the Question
Tractatus I: II. To the Arguments
Section I: A. To the Arguments for the Other Opinion
Section II: B. To the Principal Arguments
Pars II: Second Part - On the Persons and Productions in God
Quaestio I: Question 1 - Whether there can be along with the unity of the divine essence a plurality of persons
Quaestio II: Question 2 - Whether there are only three persons in the divine essence
Quaestio III: Question 3 - Whether being Produced can Stand in Something along with the Divine Essence
Quaestio IV: Question 4 - Whether in the Divine Essence there are only Two Intrinsic Productions
Articulus I: I. To the Third Question
Section I: A. Scotus’ own Proofs
Section II: B. Proofs of Others
Articulus II: II. To the Principal Arguments of the Third Question
Articulus III: III. To the Fourth Question
Section I: A. The Opinion of Henry of Ghent is Expounded
Section II: B. The Opinion of Henry of Ghent is Rejected
Section III: C. Scotus’ Own Opinion
Section IV: D. Instances against the Solution
Articulus IV: IV. To the Principal Arguments of the Fourth Question
Articulus V: V. To the Second Question
Tractatus I: A. About the Produced Persons in Divine Reality
Section I: B. About the Sole Non-produced Person in Divine Reality
Articulus VI: VI. To the Principal Arguments of the Second Question
Articulus VII: VII. To the First Question
Section I: A. Declaration of Scotus’ Own Solution
Section II: B. On Formal Distinction or Non-Identity
Articulus VIII: VIII. To the Principal Arguments of the First Question
Distinctio III: Third Distinction
Pars I: First Part - About the Knowability of God
Quaestio I: Question 1 - Whether God is Naturally Knowable by the Intellect of the Wayfarer
Tractatus I: Question 2 - Whether God is the First Thing Naturally Known by Us in this State of Life
Articulus I: I. Clarification of the First Question
Articulus II: II. Opinion of Others as to Each Question
Articulus III: III. Scotus’ own Response to the First Question
Section I: A. A Quidditative Concept can be Had of God
Section II: B. About a Concept Univocal to God and Creatures
Section III: C. God Cannot be Known under his Proper Idea
Section IV: D. About the Concept of Infinite Being
Section V: E. God is Known through the Species of Creatures
Articulus IV: IV. To the Arguments of the First Question
Articulus V: V. Scotus’ own Response to the Second Question
Section I: A. About the Order of Origin of Intelligibles
Section II: B. About the Order of Perfection and Adequacy in Intelligibles
Articulus VI: VI. To the Arguments for the Second Question
Quaestio II: Question 3 - Whether God is the Natural First Object that is Adequate Relative to the Intellect of the Wayfarer
Quaestio III: Question 4 - Whether any Certain and Sincere Truth could Naturally be Known by the Intellect of the Wayfarer without a Special Illumining of Uncreated Light
Articulus I: I. Opinion of Henry
Articulus II: II. Attack on Henry’s Opinion and Solution of the Question
Section I: A. Against the Fundamental Reasons Adduced
Section II: B. Against the Opinion in Itself
Section III: C. Against the Fundamental Reasons insofar as they are Less Probative
Section IV: D. Against the Conclusion itself of the Opinion
Section V: E. Solution of the Question
Section VI: F. Once More Against the Fundamental Reasons Adduced
Articulus I: I. Opinion of Others
Section I: A. First Opinion
Section II: B. Second Opinion
Articulus II: II. To the Question
Section I: A. Of What Sort the Univocity of Being is and to What Things it Extends.
Section II: B. About the First Object of the Intellect
Section III: C. Arguments against the Univocity of Being and their Solution
Articulus III: III. About Other Transcendentals
Articulus IV: IV. Doubt about the First Object of the Intellect for this Present State
Articulus V: V. To the Initial Arguments
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Ad argumenta principalia istius quaestionis respondeo. - Ad primum dico quod non semper 'perfectissimum' est causa respectu imperfectorum, comparando imperfecta ad quodcumque tertium (sicut perfectum album non est causa visibilitatis omnibus visibilibus), aut si sit causa, non tamen praecisa et adaequata, - et si maxime motivum, non tamen praecisum et adaequatum. Primum autem obiectum intellectus de quo loquimur in ista quaestione debet esse primum adaequatum potentiae.
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Ad secundam rationem dico quod si recte arguatur debet inferri quod 'nullum ens participatum potest cognosci nisi sit ens ab ente imparticipato', et non debet inferri quod 'non potest cognosci nisi per rationem entis imparticipati cogniti': tunc enim sunt quattuor termini, quia ponitur in conclusione 'esse cognitum per ens imparticipatum', qui terminus non fuit in propositione secunda. Et ratio realis istius defectus, assignati in forma arguendi, dicta est prius in respondendo ad primum argumentum secundae quaestionis huius distinctionis, quia etsi cognoscibilitas sequatur porportionaliter entitatem, non tamen sequitur eam in cognosci, nisi comparando 'ad illum intellectum qui cognoscit quodlibet secundum gradum suae cognoscibilitatis'. Ita dico hic quod licet entitas participata concludat de necessitate cognoscibilitatem imparticipatam, et ita participatam habeat cognoscibilitatem propter cognoscibile imparticipatum, non tamen 'cognosci' per cognoscibile imparticipatum ut cognitum, sed ut causam dantem sibi 'esse'; et hoc tactum est in argumento quodam 'de frui' quaestione quarta primae distinctionis.
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Ad illud VIII De Trinitate dico quod loquitur de cognitione 'boni in communi', quae 'impressa' est - hoc est de facili imprimitur in intellectu a singularibus, quia intentiones universales facilius in quolibet occurrunt. Hoc probo per ipsum eodem libro cap. 7, ubi dicit: ((Habemus regulariter infixam humanae naturae notitiam, secundum quam quidquid tale aspicimus, hominem esse cognoscimus vel hominis formam)). Et sicut secundum istam notitiam hominis, quam dicit 'infixam regulariter' - hoc est faciliter a sensibilibus abstractam iudicamus de quocumque utrum sit homo vel non, ita etiam per idem possemus iudicare eminentiam in'humanitate' si illa esset in occurrentibus, quod apparet de notitia impressa albedinis, per quam non tantum iudicamus occurrens esse 'album', sed hoc esse albius altero. Ita dico hic: illud 'bonum' de quo loquitur cap. 5 - cuius 'notitia impressa est naturaliter intellectui' - est 'bonum in communi', et per illud iudicamus de occurrentibus hoc illo esse melius.
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Et quod loquatur de bono 'indeterminato privative', et non de bono 'indeterminato negative' (in quo bono intelligatur Deus), videtur per hoc, quia ibi - enumeratis multis particularibus bonis - dicit: ((Bonum hoc et bonum illud, tolle 'hoc' et tolle 'illud', et vide ipsum 'bonum', si potes)) - hoc est, 'tolle illa contrahentia rationem boni ad creaturas, et vide rationem boni in communi', et in hoc 'vidisti Deum' sicut in conceptu communi primo, in quo potest naturaliter a nobis videri, et non in particulari ut 'haec essentia'.
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Consimiliter intelligendum est illud quod praemittit cap. 3, ibi 'Deus est veritas': ((Noli quaerere quid sit veritas, statim obicient se phantasmata)). - Hoc intelligo sic: quando conceptus universalis abstrahitur a singulari, quanto est universalior tanto difficilius potest intellectus diu sistere in tali conceptu, quia, ut praedictum est, quandocumque 'intelligimus universale, phantasiamur eius singulare'; et illud universale facilius et diutius possumus intelligere, quod est similius singulari relucenti in phantasmate, - et universalissima sunt remotiora ab ipso singulari, et ideo difficillimum est stare in conceptu illorum universalissimorum. Concipiendo igitur Deum in conceptu universalissimo, 'noli quaerere quid hoc est', noli descendere in aliquem conceptum particularem in quo ille universalior salvatur, qui particularior propinquior est phantasmati. Descendendo enim ad talem qui magis relucet in phantasmatibus occurrentibus, 'statim amittitur illa serenitas veritatis, in qua intelligebatur Deus', quia statim intelligitur veritas contracta, quae non convenit Deo - cui conveniebat veritas in communi concepta non contracta.
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Contra. - Capitulo 5 vel 10: ((Si potueris per se perspicere bonum, perspexeris Deum, et si amore inhaeseris, continuo beatificaberis)). Beatitudo non est in bono universali sive 'indeterminato privative'. Item, capitulo 10 vel 26: ((Unde iusti esse poterint, nisi inhaerendo ipsi formae quam intuentur, ut inde formentur?)) Formari forma iustitiae non est ab universali intellecto.
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Per idem etiam dico ad illud VIII cap. 5 de bono et voluntate, ((pudeat, cum alia non amentur nisi quia bona sunt, eis inhaerendo non amare bonum ipsum unde bona sunt)). Bene probat ratio quod ipsum bonum summum magis est amandum quam bona participata, non tamen probat quod sit primum amatum primitate adaequationis, - et quia etsi ipsum sit ratio bonitatis in aliis, et ita ratio amabilitatis eorum, non tamen ipsum ut amatum est ratio aliorum ut amatorum: potest enim aliquid ad amari ipso non amato, sicut patet 'utendo fruendis vel fruendo utendis'.
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Et ista intentio Augustini colligitur ex cap. 7 IX, ubi tractans de dilectione alicuius quia 'creditur esse iustus', si postea inveniatur non esse iustus, ((statim)) - inquit - ((amor ille, per quem ferebar in eum, repulsus et quasi repercussus, in ea forma permanet in qua eum talem amaveram)); hoc est si dilexi iustitiam, et ipsum quia credidi in ipso esse iustitiam, si inveniam 'iniustum', resilit voluntas ab eo, sed adhuc stat dilectio ipsius iustitiae ut obiecti. Istud non est de iustitia aliqua imparticipata, sed de communi ratione iustitiae, quae amatur propter se, et quodcumque in quo est ista, propter illam.
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Contra: voluntas non est universalium, tum quia tendit in rem ut in se, tum quia tam amor amicitiae quam concupiscentiae est alicuius secundum exsistentiam realem, praesentem vel possibilem.
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Respondeo. Primis principiis practicis in intellectu correspondet aliqua volitio, quae est principium bonitatis moralis sicut illa principia sunt principia veritatis practicae in intellectu. - Patet etiam quod quaecumque ratio boni vel appetibilis potest intelligi in universali: et si sic ostendatur voluntati, quare non potest habere actum circa proprium obiectum ostensum? - Tertio: appetitiva 'singularis' ut singularis tantum, non habet cognitivam 'universalis' propriam sibi.
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Ad illam metaphoram 'motus animae ad res': - hoc est causaliter, quia imperat coniungi rei desideratae in se, non autem formaliter, nisi quia voluntas est activa sui actus, sed non circa rem, sub maiore ratione exsistentis quam apprehendatur ab intellectu; immo desiderium et intellectio abstractiva sunt rei sub ratione aeque exsistentis ut obiecti (ita visio et fruitio praesentis), sed desiderium movet effective ad rem quia est imperium, non sic intellectio abstractiva.
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Ad secundum dico quod homo in universali ostensus amatur amore amicitiae, et propter illud amatur 'hic homo': sic etiam iustitia in universali concupiscitur, et ideo 'haec iustitia' huic.
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Ita etiam patet expositio illius auctoritatis VIII cap. 10 vel 27, 'Cur alium diligimus' etc.: in illa auctoritate 'forma', ((ubi videmus quid sit 'iustus animus')), debet intelligi ipsa 'iustitia in communi' sicut forma 'hominis in communi' est illa per quam videmus quid requiratur ad esse hominem, et per quam formam iudicamus illud quod occurrit esse vel non esse hominem, secundum ipsum in eodem, cap. 7; 'nisi igitur hanc formam in communi diligeremus, non diligeremus illum quem credimus esse iustum, quem ex ista forma diligimus' - sicut si non diligas formam hominis in communi, numquam occurrens, propter formam hominis dilectam diliges; 'et dum non sumus iusti, minus diligimus iustitiam in communi quam oportet', quia diligimus quadam volitione seu complacentia simplici, quae non sufficit ad esse iustum, sed oportet eam diligere volitione efficaci, qua videlicet volens eligeret ipsam in se tamquam vitae suae regulam observare. Est igitur hic iustitia 'indeterminata privative', secundum quam de 'mente iusta' iudicamus, et propter quam dilectam diligimus mentem quam credimus esse iustam.