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
Pars II: Second Part - About the Vestige/Footprint
Quaestio I: Single Question - Whether in Every Creature there is a Vestige of the Trinity
Articulus I: I. To the Question
Section I: A. On the Idea of Footprint/Vestige
Subsection I: 1. Opinion of Others
Subsection II: 2. Against this Opinion
Subsection III: 3. Scotus’ own Opinion
Section II: B. About Ratification and Somesort-ness
Subsection I: 1. Opinion of Others
Subsection II: 2. Rejection of the Opinion
Sub-subsection I: a. A First Rejection of the Opinion
Sub-subsection II: b. Another Rejection of the Opinion
Subsection III: 3. Scotus’ own Opinion
Subsection IV: 4. To the Reasons for the Rejected Opinion
Section III: -
Articulus II: II. To the Initial Arguments
Pars III: Third Part - About the Image
Quaestio I: Question 1 - Whether in the Intellective Part Properly Taken there is a Memory that has an Intelligible Species Naturally Prior to the Act of Understanding
Articulus I: I. To the Question
Section I: A. The Opinion of Others
Section II: B. Scotus’ Response and his own Opinion
Subsection I: 1. Reasons on the Part of the Universality of the Object
Subsection II: 2. Reasons on the Part of the Presence of the Object
Subsection III: 3. Scotus’ Concluding Opinion
Subsection IV: 4. To the Reasons from the Authorities
Section III: -
Articulus II: II. To the Initial Arguments
Articulus III: III. To the Arguments for the Opinion of Others
Quaestio II: Question 2 - Whether the Intellective Part Properly Taken or Something of it is the Total Cause Generating Actual Knowledge or is the Idea of Generating
Articulus I: I. Six Opinions of Others are Expounded and Rejected
Section I: A. About the First Opinion
Subsection I: 1. Exposition of the Opinion
Section I: 2. Rejection of the Opinion
Section II: B. About the Second Opinion
Subsection I: 1. Exposition of the opinion
Subsection II: 2. Rejection of the Opinion
Section III: C. About the Third and Fourth Opinion
Subsection I: 1. Exposition of the Opinions
Subsection II: 2. Rejection of the Opinions
Section IV: D. About the Fifth and Sixth Opinion
Subsection I: 1. Exposition of the Opinions
Subsection II: 2. Rejection of the Opinions
Subsection III: 3. Rejection of the Sixth Opinion Specifically
Articulus II: II. Scotus’ own Opinion
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Ad quaestionem respondeo quod intellectio actualis est aliquid in nobis non perpetuum sed habens 'esse' post 'non esse', sicut experimur. Istius oportet ponere aliquam causam activam, et aliquo modo in nobis, alioquin non esset in potestate nostra intelligere eum vellemus, quod est contra Philosophum II De anima.
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Apparet autem hic quod oportet concurrere animam et obiectum praesens, et hoc in specie intelligibili, sicut dictum est in praecedenti quaestione, quia alio modo non est praesens ut actu intelligibile, loquendo de sensibili et obiecto materiali.
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Dico tunc quod istius intellectionis non est tota causa activa obiectum, nec in se nec in sua specie, sicut apparet per primam rationem contra secundam opinionem, - et etiam quia tunc non posset salvari imago in mente ut mens est, quia nihil ipsius mentis haberet rationem parentis.
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Nec tota causa intellectionis est anima intellectiva, vel aliquid eius formaliter, - propter rationem factam de quattuor causis contra primam opinionem; quae ratio explicat rationem Philosophi in II De anima, de qua tangitur arguendo ad principale ad primam partem. Adduntur ad hoc et aliae probabilitates:
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Prima, quia tunc actus non esset similitudo obiecti, - secunda, quia nec distingueretur essentialiter propter distinctionem obiecti, quia essentialis distinctio non est ab eo quod non est causa.
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Tertio, quia nec esset simpliciter perfectior intellectio perfectioris intelligibilis, posito aequali conatu ex parte intellectus hinc inde, quod non est verum, quia posita causa totali efficacius operante sequitur perfectior actio, - et ita si anima esset causa totalis, ubicumque ipsa ex parte sui perfectius ageret et ex maiore conatu, perfectiorem intellectionem produceret: et ita 'intellectio Dei' non esset perfectior quam 'intellectio muscae', quod est contra Philosophum - X Ethicorum - ponentem felicitatem in speculatione obiecti perfectissimi.
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Videtur etiam, quarto, quod tunc esset infinita activitas in intellectu, in quantum intellectus est activus respectu omnium intellectionum, quia ad unam intellectionem requiritur aliqua perfectio in causa illius intellectionis, et ad aliam intellectionem alterius rationis requiritur tanta perfectio, vel maior, quia continens virtualiter duas perfectiones causarum propriarum, hic et ibi; ergo habens hanc et illam, erit perfectius quam habens illam tantum, et ita habens infinitas tales ut totalis causa, est infinitum perfectione.
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Similiter, quinto, non videretur quomodo aliqua tota scientia contineretur virtualiter in obiecto, si sola anima intellectiva haberet causalitatem respectu actus et habitus. - Istarum quinque probabilitatum, tertia et quarta possunt ponderari.
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Ex istis solvitur quaestio sic: si ergo nec anima sola nec obiectum solum sit causa totalis intellectionis actualis - et illa sola videntur requiri ad intellectionem - sequitur quod ista duo sunt una causa integra respectu notitiae genitae. Et ista est sententia Augustini IX De Trinitate cap. ultimo, sicut allegatum fuit arguendo contra primam opinionem (((Liquido tenendum)) etc.).
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Qualiter autem hoc sit intelligendum, distinguo de pluribus causis concurrentibus ad eundem effectum.
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Quaedam enim ex aequo concurrunt, sicut duo trahentes aliquod idem corpus. Quaedam non ex aequo, sed habentes ordinem essentialem, et hoc dupliciter: vel sic quod superior moveat inferiorem, ita quod inferior non agit nisi quia mota ex superiore, et quandoque causa talis inferior habet a superiore virtutem illam seu formam qua movet, quandoque non, sed formam ab alio, et a causa superiore solam motionem actualem, ad producendum effectum; quandoque autem superior non movet inferiorem, nec dat ei virtutem qua movet, sed superior de se habet virtutem perfectiorem agendi, et inferior habet virtutem imperfectiorem agendi. Exemplum primi membri huius divisionis: de potentia motiva quae est in manu, et baculo et pila; exemplum secundi: Si mater ponatur habere virtutem activam in generatione prolis, illa et potentia activa patris concurrunt ut duae causae partiales, ordinatae quidem, quia altera perfectior reliqua; non tamen imperfectior recipit suam causalitatem a causa perfectiore, nec tota illa causalitas est eminenter in causa perfectiore, sed aliquid addit causa imperfectior, in tantum quod effectus potest esse perfectior a causa perfectiore et imperfectiore quam a sola perfectiore.
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Ad propositum. Obiectum intelligibile - praesens in se vel in specie intelligibili - et pars intellectiva non concurrunt ut 'causae ex aequo' ad intellectionem, quia tunc alterum haberet causalitatem talem imperfectam, et reliquum suppleret eam; et si alterum esset perfectum, posset habere in se uno totam causalitatem amborum, sicut si virtus motiva unius esset perfecta, suppleret virtutem alterius: et tunc species esset quasi quidam gradus intellectivitatis, supplens gradum intellectivitatis deficientem intellectui, et tunc si fieret perfectior intellectus secundum gradum talem, posset sine specie et sine obiecto habere actum intelligendi, quod falsum est.
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Concurrunt ergo ista duo ut habentia ordinem essentialem. Non tamen primo modo, quia nec intellectus dat obiecto vel speciei rationem suae causalitatis - non enim obiectum natum est, in se vel in specie sui, facere intellectionem per aliquid quod recipit ab intellectu, sed ex natura sua, - nec intellectus recipit suam causalitatem ab obiecto vel specie obiecti, sicut probatum est prima ratione contra secundam opinionem. Sunt ergo causae essentialiter ordinatae, et ultimo modo, videlicet quod una est simpliciter perfectior altera, ita tamen quod utraque in sua propria causalitate est perfecta, non dependens ab alia.
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Si arguitur contra istud quod 'in causis talibus essentialiter ordinatis neutra est perfectio alterius, igitur species intelligibilis non erit forma ipsius intellectus', - similiter, ad idem, 'si sit perfectio intellectus, et totum hoc sit ratio agendi, ergo una operatio (utpote intellectio) non habebit unam rationem formalem agendi', et similiter, 'ab ente per accidens (quale est hoc totum, intellectus habens speciem) erit una per se operatio, quod est inconveniens, quia quidquid non est per se unum ens, non est ratio formalis agendi', - responsio:
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Ad primum: accidit speciei in quantum est causa partialis respectu actus intelligendi, concurrens cum intellectu ut alia causa partiali, quod ipsa perficiat intellectum, quia etsi perficiat eum, non tamen dat intellectui aliquam activitatem, pertinentem ad causalitatem intellectus. Exemplum: potentia motiva in manu potest uti cultello in quantum acutus est, ad dividendum aliquod corpus. Ista acuties si esset in manu ut in subiecto, posset manus uti ea ad eandem operationem, et tamen accideret manui - in quantum est in ea potentia motiva - quod acuties in ea esset, et e converso, quia acuties nullam perfectionem daret manui pertinentem ad potentiam motivam. Quod apparet, quia aeque perfecta est potentia motiva sine tali acutie, - et eodem modo utitur ea quando est in alio, coniuncto manui (ut cultello), sicut uteretur ea si esset in manu. Ita in proposito. Si species posset esse inexsistens intellectui absque inhaerentia per modum formae, si illo modo inexsistens esset vel posset esse sufficienter coniuncta intellectui, possent istae duae causae partiales - intellectus et species - coniunctae sibi invicem, in eandem operationem in quam modo possunt quando species informat intellectum. Quod etiam apparet ponendoa aliquod intelligibile praesens sine specie: illud enim obiectum est causa partialis, et non informat intellectum, qui est altera causa partialis; sed istae duae causae partiales approximatae, absque informatione alterius ab altera, per solam approximationem debitam causant unum effectum communem.
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Hoc secundum si ponitur, non sine causa forte impossibile est 'accidens' quod est principium immanentis et non transeuntis esse sufficienter coniunctum passo nisi sit in illo subiective, quare dicitur 'accidens'. Nonne essentia divina in intellectu beati est principium intuitionis, quae non immanet essentiae illi nec alicui cuius ipsa sit forma? Similiter, caritas in patria est principium intuitionis sui, et tamen non est in intellectu intuente. Ergo intellectio est actio immanens, accipiendo actionem pro operatione.
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Contra: sic non est aliqua actio 'immanens' et aliqua 'transiens'. Respondeo tunc et dico quod est divisio vocis in significata; aliter: actio de genere actionis immanet alteri causae, scilicet intellectui, et respectu eius est immanens, - non autem respectu reliquae, scilicet obiecti.
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Per idem patet ad secundum, quia in quocumque uno ordine causae, oportet ponere respectu unius effectus unam per se causam, et unam rationem per se causandi (ita intellectus in suo ordine causalitatis est unus, et habet unam rationem formalem causandi, - et species vel obiectum in suo ordine causandi est una causa specialis, et habet unam rationem causandi), sed non oportet totalem causam prout complectitur omnes causas partiales, habere unam rationem causandi nisi unitate ordinis; quod si cum unitate ordinis concurrat 'unitas per accidens', hoc accidit, sed unitas ordinis est 'per se'. Exemplum: sol in suo ordine causandi habet unam rationem causandi respectu prolis, et pater in suo ordine causandi est una causa unius rationis, sed causa totalis quae complectitur solem et patrem, non habet aliquam unam rationem formalem causandi - sicut non est una causa - nisi unitate ordinis; et si contingat causas sic ordinatas praeter unitatem ordinis habere 'unitatem per accidens', in quantum scilicet una accidit alteri, hoc non competit eis 'per se in quantum causae ordinatae.