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

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

  1. Consequenter quaero de frui in se, et primo - supposito quod sit aliquid voluntatis praecise - quaero, an sit aliquis actus elicitus a voluntate, vel passio recepta in voluntate, puta aliqua delectatio. Quod sit delectatio, probo: Quia fructus est ultimum quod exspectatur de arbore, et frui dicitur a fructu; sed ultimum fructus non est ipsa comestio, sed delectatio, propter quam comeditur et quaeritur fructus. Ergo similiter est in spiritualibus, quod scilicet fructus est ultimum quod exspectatur de obiecto; sed tale est delectatio; quia delectatio etiam sequitur actum, X Ethicorum, ergo est ultimum; ergo etc.

  2. Item, ad Galatas 5: Fructus Spiritus sunt pax, gaudium, etc. Omnia ista sunt passiones - et praecipue gaudium, quod est delectatio aut saltem non sunt actus, sed consequentes actum; fructu autem per se fruimur; ergo frui est aliquid per se consequens actum, ut videtur.

  3. Contra: Voluntas actu elicito amat Deum; aut ergo propter aliud, et tunc utitur, et ita est perversa, aut propter se, et tunc fruitur (ex definitione 'frui'), et ita frui est actus.

Articulus I: I. To the Question

  1. In ista quaestione primo videndum est de ipsis conceptibus et secundo de significato nominis.

  2. Quantum ad primum dico quod sicut in intellectu sunt duo actus assentiendi alicui complexo - unus quo assentitur alicui vero propter se, sicut principio, alius quo assentitur alicui vero complexo non propter se sed propter aliud verum, sicut conclusioni ita in voluntate sunt duo actus assentiendi bono, unus quo assentitur alicui bono propter se, alius quo assentitur alicui bono propter aliud, ad quod illud bonum refertur, sicut conclusioni assentitur propter principium, quia conclusio veritatem suam habet a principio. Ista similitudo accipi potest a Philosopho VI Ethicorum, ubi dicitur quod ((in mente est affirmatio et negatio, sed hoc in appetitu est prosecutio et fuga)); et ita, ultra, sicut in mente ƿest duplex affirmatio, propter se et propter aliud, ita in appetitu est duplex prosecutio vel adhaesio, et propter se et propter aliud.

  3. Est tamen inter haec duplex differentia. Prima, quia illi duo assensus intellectus distinguuntur ex natura obiectorum; sunt enim alteri propter alteram evidentiam huius et illius veri, et ideo habent distincta obiecta sibi correspondentia et ipsos causantia. Hic autem isti assensus non sunt ex distinctione obiectorum, sed ex distincto actu potentiae liberae, sic vel sic acceptantis eius obiectum, quia, sicut prius dictum est, in potestate eius est sic vel sic agere, referendo vel non referendo; et ideo non correspondent istis actibus propria obiecta distincta, sed quodcumque bonum volibile potest voluntas habere obiectum secundum hunc actum vel secundum illum. Secunda differentia est quod illi duo assensus intellectus sufficienter dividunt assensum intellectus in communi, nec inter ipsos est aliquid medium, quia nulla est evidentia media ex parte obiecti a qua possit accipi alia veritas quam veritas principii vel conclusionis. Praeter autem istos duos assensus voluntatis est aliquis assensus medius, quia voluntati potest ostendi aliquod ƿbonum absolute apprehensum, non sub ratione alicuius propter se boni nec propter aliud boni. Voluntas autem circa tale sic ostensum potest habere aliquem actum, et non necessario inordinatum; ergo potest habere aliquem actum volendi illud absolute, absque relatione ad aliud, aut absque fruitione propter se; et ulterius, potest imperare intellectui ut inquirat quale bonum illud sit et qualiter volendum, et tunc potest illi sic assentire,- et tota ratio differentiae hinc et inde est libertas voluntatis et necessitas naturalis ex parte intellectus.

  4. Ex his ultra: actus assensus bono propter se est actus perfectus; actum autem perfectum consequitur delectatio, ex X Ethicorum; ergo actum volendi bonum propter se consequitur aliqua delectatio. Habemus igitur quantum ad propositum quattuor distincta: actum imperfectum volendi bonum propter aliud, qui vocatur usus, et actum perfectum volendi bonum propter se, qui vocatur fruitio, et actum neutrum, et delectationem consequentem actum.

  5. De secundo principali, cui scilicet istorum convenit hoc nomen 'frui', potest colligi ex auctoritatibus loquentibus de hoc vocabulo 'frui'; planum est quod non est actus neuter, nec actus usus ƿest actus fruitionis, sed tantum est altercatio de actu perfecto et delectatione consequente. Respondeo: aliquae auctoritates videntur dicere quod frui est iste actus perfectus tantum, aliquae quod est delectatio tantum; aliquae quod includit utrumque, et tunc non significat aliquod ens per se unum, sed unum aggregatione ex duobus entibus vel ens per accidens: nec est hoc inconveniens quod unum nomen significet multa, quia Ilias secundum Philosophum VII Metaphysicae potest significare totum bellum troianum.

  6. Quod tantum sit actus videtur illa auctoritate Augustini 83 Quaestionum quaestione 30: ((Omnis perversitas, quae vitium nominatur, est uti fruendis et frui utendis)). Perversitas formaliter est in actu voluntatis elicito, non in delectatione, quia delectatio non est prava nisi quia actus est pravus, nec delectatio est in potestate delectantis nisi quia actus est in potestate eius; peccatum ƿautem in quantum peccatum formaliter est in potestate peccantis. Hoc etiam videtur manifeste dicere Augustinus I De doctrina christiana cap. l: ((Frui est amore inhaerere alicui rei propter se)). Ista inhaesio videtur esse per potentiam motivam inhaerentis, sicut in corporibus (a quibus transumptum est hoc nomen 'inhaerere' ibi) inhaesio est virtute inhaerentis.

  7. Quod autem frui sit tantum delectatio videtur dicere illa auctoritas Augustini I De Trinitate cap. l0 g: ((Plenum gaudium est ƿfrui Trinitate)); quod si non distorqueatur auctoritas ad causalitatem vel ad alium intellectum, quem non sonant verba, gaudium est formaliter delectatio. Similiter et in illa quaestione praeallegata Augustini: ((Fruimur illa re de qua capimus voluptatem)); si sit locutio per identitatem vel quasi definitio, tunc 'capere voluptatem' est frui essentialiter.

  8. Quod autem frui accipiatur pro utroque, actu scilicet et delectatione simul, probatur ex definitione illa 'frui' X De Trinitate cap. 9: ((Fruimur cognitis, in quibus voluntas propter se delectata conquiescit)). Ad actum enim pertinet quod dicitur 'fruimur cognitis', quia actui voluntatis praesupponitur obiectum cognitum; sed post subditur 'in quibus voluntas delectata conquiescit' etc., quod, si delectatio accideret fruitioni, non debet poni in eius definitione. Similiter, si ponatur ad beatitudinem essentialiter pertinere et actus et delectatio sequens, tunc omnes auctoritates quae dicunt ƿfrui esse summum praemium vel beatitudinem nostram dicunt eam includere utrumque, et actum et delectationem. Istam minorem dicit illa auctoritas I De doctrina christiana cap. 6: ((Summa merces est ut ipso perfruamur)).

  9. Sed de significato vocabuli non est contendendum, quia secundum Augustinum I Retractationum cap. 9 ((cum res constat, non est vis facienda in nominibus)). Res constat quod voluntas haƿbet triplicem actum, et quartum, puta passionem consequentem: et duobus actibus nullo modo convenit hoc nomen; pro alterutro aliorum duorum et pro ambobus simul videntur aliqui uti vocabulo, et tunc erit aequivocum, - vel si est univocum, oportet quasdam auctoritates exponere quod loquuntur causaliter vel concomitanter.

Articulus II: II. To the Principal Arguments

  1. Ad primum argumentum dico quod fructus est ultimum quod exspectatur ab arbore, non ut possidendum corporaliter, sed ut habendum per actum potentiae attingentis illud ut obiectum; pomum enim non est fructus in quantum exspectatur ut possidendum sed in quantum exspectatur ut gustandum et actu gustus attingendum, quam gustationem sequitur delectatio- si ergo fructus dicatur quo fruendum est, delectatio non est fructus, sed illud ultimum exspectandum; sed nec delectatio erit frui si primum quo attingo exspectatum ut exspectatum est frui, - quod videtur proƿbabile, cum fructus sit quid exspectatum sub prima ratione, sub qua exspectatur ut a potentia attingendum.

  2. Ad secundum dico quod auctoritas est in oppositum. Cum enim dicat auctoritas 'non actus esse fructus sed passiones', sequitur quod frui non est delectari, quia fructus est obiectum fruitionis; passio autem non potest esse ita primo obiectum sui, sicut potest esse obiectum actus; ideo frui si est passionis ut obiecti, ut sonat auctoritas, non erit passio, sed actus aliquis, potens illas passiones habere pro obiectis quasi proximis suo primo obiecto. Et cum dicitur quod 'per se fructu fruimur', non est hoc intelligendum in ratione formali principali, sicut 'calore calet', sed in ratione obiecti, sicut si diceretur quod 'amabili amamus'; in ratione autem causae formalis fruitione fruimur. Auctoritas autem non dicit aliquid consequens actum esse fruitionem, sed fructum, id est fruitionis obiectum.

  3. Opinio quod dilectio et delectatio sunt idem, quattuor raƿtionibus: prima, eiusdem potentiae circa idem obiectum est unicus actus; secunda, eandem cognitionem non sequitur immediate nisi idem; tertia, quorum opposita sunt eadem, et ipsa sunt eadem; quarta, habentia eosdem effectus et eadem consequentia sunt eadem. - Differunt ratione sicut ab hoc in illud et e converso; etiam sicut unio et quietatio, privatio divisionis et privatio motus. Contra: definitio dilectionis II Rhetoricae et definitio delectationis I Rhetoricae differunt. Responsio: Contra de tristitia quadrupliciter: nolle est in Deo et in beatis; nolle non requirit apprehensionem exsistentiae rei, vel est circa illud quod nec exsistit in re nec apprehenditur exsistere; nolle intensissimum ante fieri rei; voluntarie nolo. Contra de dilectione: delectatio est per se obiectum dilectionis, sicut et desiderii praecedentis, IX Trinitatis ultimo: ((Desiderium inhiantis)) etc. Item, Lucifer potest se summe diligere, XIV Civitatis ultimo et Anselmus De casu diaboli 3. Item, intensior dilectio minor delectatio. ƿContra distinctionem primam rationis, aliud agens; contra secundum, unio est relatio. - Solutio X Ethicorum.

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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