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
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Quantum ad tertium articulum, ex istis est respondendum ad illas rationes tres. Ad primam, ad illud de mutatione obiecti, - antecedens est ƿfalsum; nec est opinio Augustini, sed error Heracliti et discipuli sui Cratyli, qui nolebat loqui sed movere digitum, ut dicitur IV Metaphysicae. Et consequentia non valet dato quod antecedens esset verum, quia adhuc - secundum Aristotelem posset haberi certa cognitio de hoc quod 'omnia continue moverentur'. - Non sequitur etiam, 'si obiectum est mutabile, igitur quod gignitur ab eo non est repraesentativum alicuius sub ratione immutabilis', quia mutabilitas in obiecto non est ratio gignendi, sed natura ipsius obiecti quod est mutabile; genitum igitur ab ipso ƿrepraesentat naturam per se. Igitur si natura, unde natura, habeat aliquam immutabilem habitudinem ad aliud, illud aliud per suum exemplar et natura ipsa per suum exemplar repraesentantur ut immutabiliter unita: et ita per duo exemplaria, generata a duobus mutabilibus - non in quantum mutabilia sed in quantum naturae potest haberi notitia immutahilitatis unionis eorum.
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Quamvis non in quantum mutabile gignat, si tamen est mutabile, quomodo eius ad aliud est habitudo immutabilis? Respondeo: habitudo est immutabilis sic, quia inter extrema non potest esse opposita habitudo, nec non esse ista, positis extremis, sed per destructionem extremi vel extremorum destruitur.
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Contra: quomodo propositio 'necessaria' affirmatur, si identitas extremorum potest destrui? Respondeo: quando res non est, non est identitas eius realis, sed tunc si est in intellectu, est identitas ut est obiectum intellectum, et necessaria secundum quid, quia in tali 'esse' extrema non possunt esse sine tali identitate; tamen illa potest non esse, sicut extremum potest esse non intellectum. Ergo 'propositio necessaria' ƿin intellectu nostro secundum quid, quia immutabilis in falsam; sed 'simpliciter necessaria' non nisi in intellectu divino, sicut nec extrema habent identitatem simpliciter necessario in aliquo 'esse' nisi in illo 'esse' intellecto.
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Patet etiam quod repraesentativum in se mutabile potest repraesentare aliquid sub ratione immutabilis, quia essentia Dei, sub ratione immutabilis repraesentabitur intellectui per aliquid omnino mutabile, sive illud sit species sive actus; hoc patet per simile, quia per finitum potest repraesentari aliquid sub ratione infiniti.
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Ad secundum dico quod in anima potest intelligi duplex mutabilitas: una ab affirmatione in negationem, et e converso, - puta ab ignorantia ad scientiam vel a non intellectione ad intellectionem, - alia quasi a contrario in contrarium, puta a rectitudine in deceptionem, vel e converso. Ad quaecumque autem obiecta, est mutabilis anima prima mutabilitate, et per nihil, formaliter in ea exsistens, tollitur ab ea talis mutabilitas. Sed non est mutabilis secunda mutabilitate, nisi circa illa complexa quae non habent evidentiam ex terminis. Circa illa vero quae sunt evidentia ex terminis, mutari non potest secunda mutabilitate, quia ipsi termini apprehensi, sunt causa necessaria et evidens conformitatis compositionis factae, ad ipsos terminos. Ergo si anima est mutabilis a rectitudine in errorem, absolute, non ƿsequitur quod 'per nihil aliud a se potest rectificari': saltem rectificari potest circa illa obiecta circa quae non potest intellectus errare, apprehensis terminis.
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Ad tertium dico quod si aliquam apparentiam haberet, magis concluderet contra opinionem illam quae negat speciem intelligibilem, quia illa species quae potest repraesentare sensibile tamquam obiectum in somniis, esset phantasma, non species intelligibilis. Igitur si intellectus solo phantasmate utatur per quod obiectum est sibi praesens, et non aliqua specie intelligibili, non videtur quod per aliquod in quo obiectum sibi relucet posset discernere 'verum' a verisimili. Sed ponendo speciem in intellectu, non valet ratio, quia intellectus non potest uti illa pro se ut pro obiecto, quia non contingit uti illa in dormiendo.
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Si obicis 'si phantasma potest repraesentare se ut obiectum, igitur intellectus per illum errorem virtutis phantasticae potest errare, vel saltem potest ligari ne possit operari, ut patet in somniis et in freneticis', - potest dici quod etsi ligetur quando est talis error in virtute phantastica, non tamen errat intellectus, quia tunc non habet aliquem actum.
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Sed quomodo sciet vel erit tunc intellectus certus, quando non errat virtus phantastica, quam tamen non errare requiritur ad hoc quod intellectus non erret? Respondeo. Ista veritas quiescit in intellectu, quod 'potentia non errat circa obiectum proportionatum, nisi indisposita': et notum est intellectui virtutem phantasticam non esse indispositam in vigilia tali indispositione quae facit phantasma repraesentare se tamquam obiectum, quia per se notum est intellectui quod 'intelligens' vigilat, ita quod virtus phantastica non est ligata in vigilia, sicut in somniis.
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Sed adhuc instatur, contra certitudinem dictam de actibus, hoc modo: 'videtur mihi quod videam vel audiam, ubi tamen nec video nec audio; igitur de hoc non est certitudo'.
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Respondeo. Aliud est contra negantem aliquam propositionem ostendere eam esse veram, aliud est alicui admittenti eam ostendere quomodo sit vera. - Exemplum IV Metaphysicae. Contra negantem primum principium non inducit Philosophus istud inconveniens quod 'opiniones contrariae simul essent in anima' (hoc ipsi concederent ƿsicut praemissam), sed inducit eis alia inconvenientia, manifestiora eis licet non in se. Sed recipientibus primum principium ostendit quomodo sit notum, quia ita quod 'oppositum eius non possit venire in mentem', - quod probat, quia 'tunc possent opiniones contrariae simul stare'. Talis conclusio est ibi magis inconveniens quam hypothesis.
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Ita hic. Si concedis nullam esse per se notam, nolo disputare tecum, quia constat quod protervis, et non es persuasus, sicut patet in actibus tuis (quomodo obicit Philosophus IV Metaphysicae): somnians enim de aliquo quasi in proximo obtinendo, et postea evigilans, non prosequeris illud, sicut prosequereris si ita esses proximus in vigilando ad illud consequendum. - Si autem admittis aliquam propositionem esse per se notam - et circa quamcumque ƿpotest potentia indisposita errare, sicut patet in somniis, - ergo ad hoc ut aliqua cognoscatur per se esse nota, oportet quod possit cognosci quando potentia est disposita et quando non, et per consequens potest haberi notitia de actibus nostris quod potentia est ita disposita, quod illa est per se nota quae apparet sibi per se nota.
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Dico tunc ad formam huius cavillationis, quod sicut apparet somnianti se videre, ita posset sibi apparere oppositum unius principii per se noti, speculabilis, et tamen non sequitur quin illud principium sit per se notum, et ita non sequitur quin sit per se notum audienti quod audiat, quia circa utrumque potest potentia indisposita errare, non autem disposita: et quando sit disposita, et quando non, hoc est per se notum - alias non posset cognosci aliquam aliam esse per se notam, quia non posset cognosci quae foret per se nota, utrum illa cui intellectus sic dispositus, vel cui sic, assentiret.