Ordinatio

John Duns Scotus

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

  1. Ad argumenta pro opinione Aristotelis. Ad primum dico quod cognitio dependet ab anima cognoscente et obiecto cognito, quia secundum Augustinum, IX De Trinitate cap. ultimo, ((a cognoscente et cognito paritur notitia)). Licet igitur anima habeat sufficiens activum et passivum intra pro quanto actio respectu cognitionis convenit animae, tamen non habet sufficiens activum intra se pro quanto actio convenit obiecto, quia sic est ut tabula nuda, ut dicitur III De anima. Est igitur intellectus agens quo est omnia facere, verum est in quantum 'factio' respectu cognitionis convenit animae, non in quantum obiectum est activum.

  2. Ad confirmationem rationis. Ad maiorem dico quod natura quandoque accipitur pro principio intrinseco motus vel quietis prout describitur II Physicorum - quandoque pro principio activo naturaliter, prout natura distinguitur contra artem sive contra propositum propter oppositum modum principiandi, sive sit intrinsecum sive non, dummodo sit naturale. Primo modo maior non est vera, quia non correspondet omni passivo naturaliter principium activum intrinsecum quod sit natura, quia multa sunt naturaliter receptiva alicuius actus, cuius non habent principium activum intrinsecum. Secundo etiam modo propositio maior est falsa in quibusdam, quando videlicet natura propter sui excellentiam ordinatur naturaliter ad recipiendum perfectionem ita eminentem, quae non possit subesse causalitati agentis naturalis secundo modo. Ita est in proposito.

  3. Cum probatur maior dico quod potentia passiva non est frustra in natura, quia etsi per agens naturale non possit principaliter reduci ad actum, tamen potest per tale agens dispositio ad ipsum induci, et potest per aliquod agens in natura - id est in tota coordinatione essendi vel entium - puta per agens primum vel supernaturale complete reduci ad actum.

  4. Et si obicitur quod istud vilificat naturam quod ipsa non possit consequi perfectionem suam ex naturalibus, cum natura minus deficiat in nobilioribus, ex II De caelo et mundo, respondeo: si felicitas nostra consisteret in speculatione suprema ad qualem possumus nunc naturaliter attingere, non diceret Philosophus naturam deficere in necessariis. Nunc autem illam concedo posse haberi naturaliter, et ultra, dico aliam eminentiorem posse recipi naturaliter. Igitur in hoc magis dignificatur natura, quam si suprema sibi possibilis poneretur illa naturalis; nec est mirum quod ad maiorem perfectionem sit capacitas passiva in aliqua natura quam eius causalitas activa se extendat.

  5. Illud quod adducitur de II Caeli et mundi non est ad propositum, quia Philosophus loquitur ibi de organis correspondentibus potentiae motivae si ipsa inesset stellis. Et concedo quod universaliter cui datur potentia quae nata est esse organica, ei datur a natura organum, in non orbatis dico. Sed in proposito data est potentia, sed non organica; non tamen data sunt naturaliter omnia alia praeter potentiam concurrentia ad actum. A Philosopho igitur ibi haberi potest quod natura ordinabilis ad aliquem actum vel obiectum naturaliter habet potentiam ad illud, et organum si potentia est organica; sed non sic de posterioribus requisitis ad actum.

  6. Aliter posset dici ad maiorem quod ipsa est vera loquendo de potentia passiva naturali ut passiva comparatur ad activam, non autem ut passiva comparatur ad actum receptum. Differentia membrorum patet in principio solutionis istius quaestionis.

  7. Minor autem est vera secundo modo, non primo modo. Posset etiam tertio modo faciliter dici ad minorem, negando, quia licet absolute intellectus possibilis sit naturaliter receptivus talis intellectionis, non tamen pro statu isto. De causa autem huius dicetur inferius distinctione 3.

  8. Ad rationem tertiam quaere responsionem Thomae in Summa, I parte Summae quaestione 1, ubi respondet sic, quod ((diversa ratio cognoscibilis diversitatem scientiarum inducit. Eandem enim conclusionem demonstrat astrologus per medium mathematicum, id est a materia abstractum, (puta quod terra est rotunda), et naturalis per medium circa materiam consideratum. Unde nihil prohibet de eisdem rebus de quibus philosophicae disciplinae tractant secundum quod sunt cognoscibilia lumine rationis naturalis etiam aliam scientiam tractare secundum quod cognoscuntur lumine divinae revelationis)). Contra: si de cognoscibilibus in theologia est cognitio tradita vel possibilis tradi in aliis scientiis, licet in alio lumine, ergo non est necessaria cognitio theologica de eisdem. Consequentia patet in exemplo eius, quia cognoscens terram esse rotundam per medium physicum, non indiget cognitione per medium mathematicum, tamquam simpliciter necessaria.

  9. Dicta tamen responsio ad tertium exponitur sic, quod scilicet habitus et est habitus et est forma; in quantum habitus, habet distinctionem ab obiecto, sed in quantum forma, potest distingui a principio activo. Respectu autem habitus scientifici principia sunt causae effectivae. Licet igitur ubi est idem scibile (puta quod terra est rotunda) non sit distinctio per obiecta, tamen est distinctio per principia quibus mathematicus et physicus hoc ostendunt: et ita erit distinctio habituum in quantum sunt formae et non in quantum sunt habitus.

  10. Contra: forma est communis ad habitum; sed impossibile est aliqua esse distincta in ratione superioris et indistincta in ratione inferioris; ergo impossibile est aliqua esse distincta per rationem formae unde forma et tamen esse indistincta in ratione habituum (hoc enim esset ac si aliqua essent distincta in ratione animalis et indistincta in ratione hominis). Praeterea, supponit etiam quod principia sunt distinctiva habitus in alio genere causae quam ut principia effectiva, quod falsum est, quia si aliquam rationem causae distinctivae habeant ad habitus, non habent rationem nisi causae efficientis. Praeterea, semper stat ratio quia quantumcumque possent poni habitus distincti cognitivi, tamen non salvatur necessitas unius, quasi alias cognitio sit impossibilis, ponendo possibilitatem alterius habitus undecumque distincti.

  11. Ideo ad argumentum respondeo quod in illis scientiis speculativis etsi tractetur de omnibus speculabilibus, non tamen quantum ad omnia cognoscibilia de eis, quia non quantum ad propria eorum, sicut patuit prius in tertia ratione contra primam opinionem (quaere supra g).

  12. Ad quartum respondetur sic, quod principia prima non possunt applicari ad conclusiones aliquas nisi sensibiles: tum quia termini eorum sunt abstracti a sensibilibus, et ita sapiunt naturam eorum, tum quia intellectus agens, per quem debet fieri applicatio, limitatur ad sensibilia.

  13. Contra: certum est intellectui ista prima principia esse vera non tantum in sensibilibus, sed etiam in insensibilibus; non enim dubitat magis intellectus quod contradictoria non sunt simul vera de immateriali quam de materiali. Et quod dicitur quod terminus primi principii est ens quod dividitur in decem genera, et illud non extendit se ad obiectum theologicum, hoc nihil valet; non enim magis dubitamus quod contradictoria non sunt simul vera de Deo (ut quod Deus est beatus et non beatus, et huiusmodi) quam de albo.

  14. Alia datur responsio, quod ex solis maioribus non sequuntur conclusiones, sed cum minoribus adiunctis; nunc autem minores non sunt naturaliter manifestae quae deberent illis adiungi. Contra: minores sumendae sub primis principiis praedicant de sumptis 'sub' terminos subiectos primorum principiorum; sed notum est terminos primorum principiorum dici de quocumque, quia sunt communissimi; igitur etc.

  15. Ideo respondeo quod secunda pars minoris est falsa, haec videlicet quod in primis principiis 'includuntur virtualiter omnes conclusiones scibiles'. Ad probationem dico quod sicut termini subiecti sunt communes, ita et termini praedicati. Quando igitur termini subiecti, quia distributi, accipiuntur pro omnibus, non accipiuntur pro omnibus nisi respectu terminorum praedicatorum qui sunt communissimi, et per consequens virtute talium principiorum non sciuntur de inferioribus nisi praedicata communissima.

  16. Hoc patet ratione, quia medium non potest esse 'propter quid' respectu alicuius passionis nisi quae passio includitur virtualiter in ratione illius medii; in ratione autem subiecti principii communissimi non includitur 'propter quid' aliqua passio particularis, sed tantum passio communissima; ergo illud subiectum non potest esse medium vel ratio cognoscendi aliqua nisi sub illa ratione communissima. Sed praeter passiones communissimas sunt multae aliae passiones scibiles, ad quas passiones non possunt passiones primorum principiorum esse media, quia non includunt illas. Igitur multae sunt veritates scibiles quae non includuntur in primis principiis. Hoc patet in exemplo, quia ista 'omne totum est maius sua parte' etsi includat istam 'quaternarius est maior binario', et alias similes de eodem praedicato, non includit tamen istas: 'quaternarius est duplus ad binarium', 'ternarius se habet in proportione sexquialtera ad dualitatem', nam ad ista praedicata oporteret quod habet specialia media includentia ipsa.

  17. Tertia probatio, logica, est quia licet contingat descendere sub subiecto universalis affirmativae, non tamen sub praedicato; multa autem praedicata contenta sub praedicatis primorum principiorum sunt scibilia de inferioribus ad subiecta illorum; igitur illa praedicata per prima principia non sciuntur de illis subiectis.

  18. Contra istud obicitur: 'de quolibet affirmatio vel negatio et de nullo eodem ambo'; sequitur 'igitur de hoc album vel non album', ita quod licet ibi descendere sub praedicato et sub subiecto. Respondeo: istud principium 'de quolibet affirmatio vel negatio' etc., valet istam 'de quolibet cuiuslibet contradictionis altera pars estvera et altera falsa', ubi est duplex distributio, et sub utroque distributo licet descendere 'ergo de hoc huius contradictionis' etc.; sed sub praedicato stante confuse tantum non licet descendere, quia non sequitur 'de quolibet cuiuslibet contradictionis altera pars, ergo haec pars'. Ita est in aliis principiis; semper praedicatum universalis affirmativae stat confuse tantum, sive sint ibi duae distributiones in subiecto sive una. Et in proposito exemplo adhuc patet propositum. Quia de homine scibile est quod est risibilis, numquam per hoc principium 'de quolibet' etc. potest plus inferri nisi 'igitur de homine risibile vel non risibile'. Altera igitur pars praedicati disiuncti numquam scietur de subiecto per hoc principium, sed requiritur aliud principium speciale, ut definitio subiecti vel passionis, quod quidem est medium et ratio ad sciendum 'risibile' determinate de homine.

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

Section III: C. To the Things Said in the Third and Fourth Opinion

Section IV: D. To the Arguments of the Fifth Opinion

Articulus IV: IV. To the Initial Arguments

Quaestio III: Question 3 - Whether the More Principal Cause of Generated Knowledge is the Object Present in Itself or in the Species, or the Very Intellective Part of the Intellect

Articulus I: I. Solution of the Question

Articulus II: II. To the Initial Arguments

Quaestio IV: Question 4 - Whether there is Distinctly in the Mind an Image of the Trinity

Articulus I: I. To the Question

Section I: A. About the Image of the Trinity in Us

Section II: B. Two Doubts

Subsection I: 1. To the First Doubt

Subsection II: 2. To the Second Doubt

Subsection III: 3. Corollary

Articulus II: II. To the Initial Arguments

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