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

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

  1. Circa solutionem huius quaestionis sic procedo: primo distinguo de theologia in se et de theologia in nobis; secundo assignabo rationem primi obiecti; tertio distinguam de theologia quantum ad partes eius. De primo dico quod quaelibet scientia in se est illa quae nata est haberi de obiecto eius secundum quod obiectum natum est manifestare se intellectui proportionato; doctrina autem nobis est illa quae nata est haberi in intellectu nostro de obiecto illo. Theologia igitur in se est talis cognitio qualem natum est obiectum theologicum facere in intellectu sibi proportionato; theologia vero nobis est talis cognitio qualem intellectus noster natus est habere de illo obiecto. - Exemplum: si aliquis intellectus non posset intelligere geometricalia, posset tamen alicui credere de geometricalibus, geometria esset sibi fides, non scientia; esset tamen geometria in se scientia, quia obiectum geometriae natum est facere scientiam de se in intellectu proportionato.

  2. De secundo dico quod ratio primi obiecti est continere in se primo virtualiter omnes veritates illius habitus. Quod probo sic: primo, quia obiectum primum continet propositiones immediatas, quia subiectum illarum continet praedicatum, et ita evidentiam propositionis totius; propositiones autem immediatae continent conclusiones; ergo subiectum propositionum immediatarum continet omnes veritates illius habitus.

  3. Declaro idem secundo sic, quia primitas hic accipitur ex I Posteriorum, ex definitione universalis, secundum quod dicit adaequationem; obiectum non esset adaequatum habitui nisi virtualiter contineret omnia illa ad quae consideranda habitus talis inclinat, quia si non, habitus excederet obiectum illud.

  4. Expono quod dixi 'primo virtualiter', quia illud est primum quod non dependet ab alio sed alia ab ipso; ita igitur 'primo continere' est non dependere ab aliis in continendo sed alia ab ipso, hoc est, quod, per impossibile, circumscripto omni alio in ratione obiecti, manente intellectu eius, adhuc contineret obiective. Nihil aliud autem continet nisi per rationem eius.

  5. Quod eius essentia cognita habitualiter continet 'virtualiter primo' notitiam omnium veritatum illius habitus: Ille habitus qui dicitur scientia est species intelligibilis primi obiecti; ille respicit veritates immediatas et mediatas, non formaliter sed ex consequenti, et suum obiectum adaequatum formaliter est quiditas cuius est species. Quid igitur mirum si primum obiectum ut cognitum continet notitiam illorum ad quae consideranda sua species intelligibilis, licet mediate, movet? Immo idem est speciem intelligibilem a continere virtualiter notitiam b, et ipsum a ut cognitum habitualiter, continere, quod est, speciem intelligibilem ipsius a in memoria posse gignere notitiam b in intelligentia. Secundum hoc igitur idem est obiectum primum intellectus et scientiae: et tunc primum obiectum non distinguit illa, sed proximum, quod est verum immediatum et verum mediatum, et illud primum obiectum utriusque, ordine quodam se habet ad obiecta proxima et habitus ipsorum. Secundum hoc impossibile est uti habitu scientiae nisi prius natura et simul tempore utendo habitu intellectus, quia numquam speculor sciendo nisi considerando hoc ut verum, evidens mihi propter aliud verum. Vel igitur sunt idem habitus, et prius utor illo circa illud obiectum ad quod prius inclinat (immo secundum Henricum IX Quodlibet quaestione 4 ambo sunt idem illi habitui qui est quiditas primi obiecti simplicis, quem habitum tu dicis vocari scientiam apud Aristotelem in distinctione scientiarum), vel sunt multi - immo quodlibet verum habet proprium habitum, et praeter hoc est habitus quiditatis primi obiecti quem dicis speciem intelligibilem, et ille includit virtualiter omnes, et tunc utentem posteriore oportet simul uti omnibus prioribus. Numquid igitur ad multos actus vel unum comparans habet proprium actum circa utrumque comparatum? et praeter hoc, actum comparandi etiam ad illum maxime discurrendi? - Ponitur proprius habitus, quo inclinor demonstrare, id est inferre hoc ex hoc: ad quae extrema habeo duos habitus; quaere cedulam tertio sexterno, infra, contra Henricum, Richardum, hic - si caperetur pluralitas, paucitas esset praeeligenda.

  6. Contra scilicet assignationem rationis primi obiecti superius positae a$ arguitur dupliciter. Primo sic: sicut obiectum primum ad potentiam, ita obiectum primum ad habitum; sed primum obiectum potentiae est aliquid commune ad omnia per se obiecta illius potentiae; igitur primum obiectum habitus est aliquid commune ad omnia obiecta eius, et non aliquid virtualiter continens alia.

  7. Item secundo, quia communiter assignatur in scientiis pro primo obiecto aliquid quod est commune ad illa omnia quae considerantur in illa scientia, sicut in geometria linea, in arithmetica numerus, in metaphysica ens.

  8. Ad primum respondeo et dico quod proportio obiecti ad potentiam est proportio motivi ad mobile vel activi ad passivum; proportio obiecti ad habitum est sicut proportio causae ad effectum. Quandocumque autem aliquod agens agit in aliquod passum, potest et quodlibet agens eiusdem rationis agere in quodlibet passum eiusdem rationis. Igitur prima extrema proportionis activi ad passivum sunt communia ad omnia per se extrema istius proportionis; nam inter ista communissima est adaequatio, quia in quocumque est ratio unius, illud respicit quodlibet in quo est ratio alterius. Sed prima extrema proportionis causae ad effectum non sunt communissima, quia inter illa non est adaequatio; non enim quodlibet contentum sub illo communi respicit illum habitum ut effectum eius sed tantum aliquod primum obiectum vel contentum, quod virtualiter respicit vel continet omnia ad quae habitus se extendit.

  9. Ad secundum respondeo quod multorum habituum differentium specie potest esse aliquod obiectum commune, sicut ab obiectis eorum potest extrahi obiectum commune: et ita in scientiis assignatur obiectum commune a quo non est habitus unus secundum speciem, sed tantum secundum genus.

  10. De tertio dico quod theologia non tantum continet necessaria, sed etiam contingentia. Quod patet, quia omnes veritates de Deo, sive ut trino sive de aliqua persona divina, in quibus comparatur ad extra, sunt contingentes, ut quod Deus creat, quod Filius est incarnatus, et huiusmodi; omnes autem veritates de Deo ut trinus vel ut persona determinata sunt theologicae, quia ad nullam scientiam naturalem spectant; igitur primae partes integrales theologiae sunt duae, scilicet veritates necessariae et contingentes.

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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