Frontmatter

Translator’s Preface

This translation of Book One Distinctions 1 and 2 of the Ordinatio (aka Opus Oxoniense) of Blessed John Duns Scotus is complete. These two first distinctions take up the whole of volume two of the Vatican critical edition of the text by the Scotus Commission in Rome and published by Frati Quaracchi. The translation is based on this edition.

Scotus’ Latin is tight and not seldom elliptical, exploiting to the full the grammatical resources of the language to make his meaning clear (especially the backward references of his pronouns). In English this ellipsis must, for the sake of intelligibility, often be translated with a fuller repetition of words and phrases than Scotus himself gives. The possibility of mistake thus arises if the wrong word or phrase is chosen for repetition. The only check to remove error is to ensure that the resulting English makes the sense intended by Scotus. Whether this sense has always been captured in the translation that follows must be judged by the reader. So comments and notice of errors are most welcome.

Peter L.P. Simpson
psimpson@gc.cuny.edu
December, 2012

Titlepage

THE ORDINATIO OF BLESSED JOHN DUNS SCOTUS

Book One

Distinctions 1 and 2

Translated by Peter L.P. Simpson

Contents

Book One.
First Distinction
First Part
On the Object of Enjoyment

            

Question 1: Whether the object of enjoyment per se is the ultimate end	Num. 1
I. To the Question	Num. 7
II. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 18
Question 2: Whether the ultimate end has only the one idea of Enjoyability	Num. 23
I. To the Question	Num. 30
A. On the Enjoyment of the Wayfarer as to its Possibility	Num. 31
B. On the Enjoyment of the Comprehender when Speaking of the Absolute Power of God	Num. 34
C. On the Enjoyment of the Comprehender when Speaking of the Power of the Creature	Num. 51
D. On the Enjoyment of the Comprehender and of the Wayfarer when Speaking of the Fact of it	Num. 54
II. To the Arguments
A. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 56
B. To the Reasons for the Opposite	Num. 59

Second Part
On Enjoying in Itself

          

Question 1: Whether enjoying is an act elicited by the will or a passion received in the will	Num. 62
I. To the Question	Num. 65
II. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 74
Question 2: Whether when the end has been apprehended by the intellect the will must necessarily enjoy it	Num. 77
I. To the Question	Num. 82
A. The Opinion of Others	Num. 83
B. Attack on the Opinion of Others	Num. 91
C. Scotus’ own Opinion	Num. 143
D. To the Arguments for the Opinion of Others	Num.147
II. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 156

Third Part
On the Enjoyer

       

Question 1: Whether enjoying belongs to God	Num. 159
Question 2: Whether the wayfarer enjoys	Num. 161
Question 3: Whether the sinner enjoys	Num. 163
Question 4: Whether the brutes enjoy	Num. 166
Question 5: Whether all things enjoy	Num. 168
I. To all the Questions Together	Num. 170
II. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 182

Second Distinction
First Part
On the Existence of God and his Unity

               

Question 1: Whether among beings there is something existing actually infinite	Num. 1
Question 2: Whether something infinite is known self-evidently	Num. 10
I. To the Second Question	Num. 15
II. To the Principal Arguments of the Second Question	Num. 34
III. To the First Question	Num. 39
A. The Existence of the Relative Properties of an Infinite Being is Made Clear	Num. 41
B. The Existence of an Infinite Being is Made Clear	Num. 74
1. Conclusions preliminary to infinity are proposed and demonstrated	Num. 75
2. The infinity of God is proved directly	Num. 111
IV. To the Principal Arguments of the First Question	Num. 148
Question 3: Whether there is only one God	Num. 157
I. To the Question	Num. 163
II. To the Arguments	Num. 182
A. To the Arguments for the Other Opinion	Num. 182
B. To the Principal Arguments	Num. 184

Second Part
On the Persons and Productions in God

                      

Question 1: Whether there can be along with the unity of the divine essence a plurality of persons	Num. 191
Question 2: Whether there are only three persons in the divine essence	Num. 197
Question 3: Whether the being of being produced can stand in something along with the divine essence	Num. 201
Question 4: Whether in the divine essence there are only two intrinsic productions	Num. 212
I. To the Third Question	Num. 220
A. Scotus’ own Proofs	Num. 221
B. Proofs of Others	Num. 248
II. To the Principal Arguments of the Third Question	Num. 258
III. To the Fourth Question	Num. 270
A. The Opinion of Henry of Ghent is Expounded	Num. 271
B. The Opinion of Henry of Ghent is Rejected	Num. 282
C. Scotus’ Own Opinion	Num. 300
D. Instances against the Solution	Num. 304
IV. To the Principal Arguments of the Fourth Question	Num. 327
V. To the Second Question	Num. 353
A. About the Produced Persons in Divine Reality	Num. 354
B. About the Sole Non-produced Person in Divine Reality	Num. 359
VI. To the Principal Arguments of the Second Question	Num. 371
VII. To the First Question	Num. 376
A. Declaration of Scotus’ Own Solution	Num. 377
B. On the Formal Distinction or Non-Identity	Num. 388
VII. To the Principal Arguments of the First Question	Num. 411