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
Articulus III: III. To the Arguments for the Opinions
Section I: A. To the Arguments for the First Opinion
Section II: B. To the Arguments for the Second Opinion
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Ad argumenta pro secunda opinione. - Quamvis posset ibi tangi, utrum illa causalitas quae attribuitur intellectivae parti, conveniat proprie intellectui agenti vel possibili, tamen illam difficultatem dimitto usque alias.
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Cum probatur quod 'possibilis' non potest habere causalitatem aliquam, quia 'nihil idem agit in se', - respondeo quod illa propositio non est vera nisi de agente univoco, nec illa probatio eius quod 'tunc idem esset in actu et in potentia' concludit nisi quando agens agit univoce, hoc est inducit in passum formam eiusdem rationis cum illa per quam agit; si enim sic aliquid ageret in se, ergo haberet simul 'formam eiusdem rationis ad quam movetur', et dum movetur ad illam, careret illa; ergo simul haberet illam et non haberet, - saltem hoc sequitur de duabus formis eiusdem speciei, vel de eadem. In agentibus autem aequivoce, id est in illis agentibus quae non agunt per formas eiusdem rationis cum illa ad quam agunt, propositio illa quod 'nihil movet se' non habet necessitatem, nec probatio eius quod 'aliquid sit in potentia et in actu respectu eiusdem' aliquid concludit: non enim ibi agens est tale formaliter in actu quale passum est formaliter in potentia, sed agens est virtualiter tale in actu quale formaliter est passum in potentia; et quod 'idem' sit virtualiter tale in actu et formaliter tale in potentia, nulla est contradictio.
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Ista glossa de agentibus univoce et aequivoce necessaria est, quia Philosophus posuit 'motum' non tantum in genere qualitatis, sed quantitatis et 'ubi'. In quantitate autem et 'ubi' nullum est agens univocum, quia in genere quantitatis et 'ubi' nulla forma est quae sit principium inducendi similem formam, immo - ut generaliter dicatur - quicumque motus est 'non ad formam activam', non est ab agente univoco, quia ex quo forma terminans non est activa, nulla eiusdem rationis est principium agendi. Sunt ergo apud Philosophum multi 'motus' ab agente non univoco sed aequivoco, - et ibi agens est tale virtualiter in actu quale patiens in potentia formaliter.
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Si arguas 'ergo in omnibus posset idem esse in actu virtuali et in potentia ad actum formalem, et ita quidlibet potest movere se' - respondeo quod in ista illatione est non causa ut causa, nam ex generali ratione 'actus virtualis et potentiae ad actum formalem' nulla est repugnantia, quia si ex ista ratione esset repugnantia, et in quolibet esset repugnantia; tamen in aliquo cum actu virtuali concurrit aliquid aliud, propter quod repugnat sibi quandoque esse in potentia vel actu tale formaliter. Exemplum: esse calidum virtualiter in actu et in potentia formaliter, de se non includunt contradictionem vel repugnantiam, et ideo in nullo subiecto includunt repugnantiam quod propter hoc non possint esse simul, nec alterum ibi quia alterum; tamen sol, qui est calidus virtualiter, non potest esse calidus formaliter, - tamen hoc non est propter repugnantiam istorum primo, quia saturnus est frigidus virtualiter et tamen non potest esse calidus formaliter; ergo actus virtualis non erat in eo causa repugnantiae, sed aliquid aliud, quod est commune soli et saturno, puta quod ista sunt 'corpora incorruptibilia', et calor est 'qualitas' corruptibilis.
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Sed si obicias quod 'talia principia metaphysica, ex quo sunt generalia, non debent negari propter aliquas difficultates speciales', respondeo - nulla sunt principia metaphysica quae habent multa singularia falsa; intelligendo autem quod nihil est in actu virtuali et in potentia ad actum formalem, et quod ista repugnantia accipiatur ex ratione actus et potentiae, multa sunt singularia satis patenter falsa, ex quo satis sequitur quod istud non est principium metaphysicum; sed quod nihil est in actu formali et in potentia respectu eiusdem actus formalis, est verum, scilicet quod sic nihil est simul in actu et in potentia.
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Et si omnino contendas quod 'etiam loquendo de actu virtuali et potentia ad formalem actum, sit principium metaphysicum', quomodo alii erant ita caeci, et ille solus 'videns', ut rationem terminorum communium metaphysicorum non possent concipere, et ex eis apprehendere veritatem talis complexi quod ipse ponit 'principium metaphysicum'? - quod non tantum ab aliis non ponitur 'principium', immo in multis falsum, et nusquam necessarium ratione terminorum.
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Cum arguitur, secundo, de causa materiali et efficiente, quod non coincidunt, - verum est de materia quae est in potentia pura, sed non de materia 'secundum quid', quale est subiectum respectu accidentis. Necesse enim est aliquid idem quandoque esse materiam et efficiens respectu eiusdem, quod apparet, quia alias passio non praedicaretur 'per se secundo modo' de subiecto. Probatio, quia si praedicatur de ipso 'per se secundo modo', est eius causa materialis sicut materia est in accidentibus, quia ponitur in definitione eius ut additamentum. Si etiam est praedicatio 'per se', ergo et necessaria: sed quod est sola causa materialis respectu alicuius, non habet necessitatem respectu eius, ergo oportet praeter causalitatem materiae ponere in subiecto causalitatem efficientiae, ad salvandum necessitatem.
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Quod arguitur postea de relationibus realibus oppositis, dico quod aliquae 'relationes oppositae' sunt incompossibiles in eadem natura, aliquae non in eadem natura sed in eodem supposito, aliquae nec in eadem natura nec in eodem supposito. Unde ex ratione relationum realium in communi non potest concludi repugnantia earum in eodem. Exempla praedictorum: 'causa et causatum' in eadem natura sive in eodem supposito repugnant, quia si non, tunc idem dependeret a se; 'producens et productum' non repugnant in eadem natura si natura potest communicari sine divisione, qualis est natura divina, repugnant tamen in eodem supposito; 'movens et motum' nec in eadem natura nec in eodem supposito repugnant, quia hic non ponitur dependentia essentialis, qualem ponunt relationes causae et causati, nec ibi ponitur quod idem sit antequam sit, quod ponere videtur ratio producti et producentis, - sed tantum ponitur hic quod idem dependet a se quantum ad actum accidentalem, sicut motum a movente dependet quantum ad actum accidentalem quem recipit ab eo. Incompossibilitatem ergo aliquarum relationum realium oportet reducere ad aliquam incompossibilitatem priorem, et ubi illa prior non invenitur, ibi nec relationum realium oppositarum incompossibilitas concludetur.
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Hoc etiam amplius declaratur, quia sicut istae relationes 'producentis et producti', quae sunt repugnantes in eodem supposito, possunt fundari in eadem natura 'illimitata', sicut in essentia divina, ita istae relationes 'moventis et moti', quae multo minorem habent repugnantiam, possunt fundari in eadem natura 'aliqualiter illimitata'. Quidquid autem est in potentia ad aliquem actum 'formaliter', et tamen cum hoc habet eandem actualitatem 'virtualiter', sicut cum idem movet se - est aliqualiter illimitatum; ponitur enim non tantum capax illius perfectionis, sed ut causans eam. Ibi ergo, propter illimitationem aliqualem, bene compatiuntur se illae relationes oppositae.
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Ad achillem eorum, quod 'quidlibet moveret se', dico, sicut argutum est contra primam opinionem in excludendo causam 'sine qua non', quod nihil est totalis causa et perfecta et naturalis, effectiva alicuius, quin ipsum, approximatum totali receptivo et non impeditum, causet illud. Lignum autem semper est approximatum sibi ipsi, et sufficienter; et non potest poni aliquod perpetuum impedimentum quando ignis non est praesens, quia si ponatur 'hoc impediens', amoveatur istud et non erit, - si 'illud', amoveatur illud; et sic discurrendo per singula, habebitur sibi praesens lignum, et nullo modo impeditum. Ergo si ipsum esset totalis causa activa respectu caloris, et ipsum est totalis causa receptiva, igitur semper esset calidum, sicut brutum semper potest sentire. Ergo cum non posset poni 'non causalitas totalis' propter impedimentum, nec propter non approximationem, nec propter receptivum, concludetur quod in ligno non est causalitas activa totalis, quod est propositum. Sic ergo non omnia movebunt se ut causae totales, quia nullae - quae non habent semper actum - sunt causae naturales totales illius actus.
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Si dicis 'saltem dicam lignum esse causam partialem, ut praesente igne coagat ad calefactionem sui in ratione effectivi vel activi partialis', - nec ista cavillatio valet, quia causae duae partiales non ponuntur respectu eiusdem effectus quando altera praecise habet totum effectum in virtute sua, univoce vel aequivoce. Probatio: si enim alterum habet in virtute sua totum effectum, totum potest producere, - ergo alia causa partialis nihil potest producere, vel idem bis producetur; ignis autem, qui ex praecedenti argumento conclusus fuit habere activitatem respectu caloris in ligno, habet in se virtualiter totum calorem ligni; ergo lignum hic nullam habet causalitatem partialem.
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Ad propositum ergo: quia anima non semper est in actu respectu cuiuscumque intellectionis - cum tamen ipsa sit receptiva cuiuscumque intellectionis, et ipsa sit sibi approximata et non semper impeditur - concluditur ipsam non esse totalem causam activam, sed aliquid aliud; illud 'aliud' concluditur esse obiectum, quia eo praesente sequitur effectus, eo non praesente non potest haberi. Concluditur ergo primo causalitas aliqualis in obiecto; nec totalis, quia obiectum propter sui imperfectionem non potest habere in virtute sua totaliter intellectionem, propter suam perfectionem, et ideo concluditur quod cum obiecto requiritur aliqua alia causa activa partialis, - non autem aliqua alia ab intellectiva, quia ipsa concurrente cum obiecto est intellectio. Sic igitur concluditur hic duas esse causas partiales activas, et in aliis multis quod nihil idem movet se, nec totaliter nec partialiter. Istud etiam quod habetur pro achille, non videtur multum efficax; hoc enim videtur esse cautela quaedam, divertendo a parte opponentis ad partem respondentis, quia propter defectum argumentorum induunt talem formam respondentium, ut respondentes faciant argumentum ad probandum necessarium, quod scilicet lignum non calefaciat se.
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Ad 'responsionem achillis' instatur, quia lignum non calefaciet se nisi alio praesente 'sine quo non', sicut per te voluntas non volificat se nisi praesente obiecto per cognitionem; si etiam arguas quod semper calefaciet alterum, quia habet virtutem calefaciendi,- respondetur: prius calefaciet se quam aliud, et hoc primum non nisi praesente causa 'sine qua non'; vel forte numquam calefaciet aliud, sicut nec voluntas volificat aliam voluntatem, nam concesso quod aliqua actio de genere actionis sit immanens, dicetur quod quaelibet, vel quare non?
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Aliter excluditur achilles: praesentibus diversis lignis igni, similiter dispositis, omnia calefiunt, praesente eodem obiecto diversis voluntatibus non omnes similiter volificantur, XII Civitatis, 6; ergo hic agit ignis, et non ibi obiectum, quia tunc aeque ageret in omnes voluntates.
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Contra hoc instatur, quia si voluntates non similiter patiuntur praesente causa 'sine qua non', hoc est quia agunt libere per te; ligna praesente causa 'sine qua non' agunt naturaliter: itaque proba quod ignis hic sit causa aliter quam 'sine qua non' - sed tantum dicitur, lignum est naturale, voluntas non.
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Tertio modo contra achillem. Quidquid patitur, ab aliquo patitur; ubi ergo non potest a se pati, oportet ponere quod ab alio, ubi non potest poni quod ab alio, oportet ponere quod a se. Voluntas non potest pati ab alio (non loquendo de Deo), tum quia tunc volitio non esset in potestate eius, tum quia tunc aliquod aliud movens - eodem modo se habens, et respectu eiusdem passi - posset indifferenter in utrumque oppositorum, quia voluntas potest velle et nolle idem eodem modo praesentatum. Itaque necessarium est attribuere voluntati principaliter motionem sui ad 'velle', quia ipsa sola habet indifferentiam in agendo, proportionatam tali passo. Sed lignum non habet in agendo indifferentiam proportionatam sibi in ratione passi: est enim receptivum qualitatum disparatarum, et contrariarum etiam, quarum aliqua intensa facta corrumpit ipsum; nec habet principia tot univoca, patet, quia etiam nihil univoce movet se, - nec unum principium univocum, quia quomodo esset ita illimitatum, nisi dicendo quidlibet posse in omnes qualitates susceptibiles in ipso, etiam corruptivas sui? In voluntate quidlibet in quod potest, est operatio eius et aliqualis perfectio.