1 This Translation of Book III Distinctions 1 to 17 of the Ordinatio (Aka Opus Oxoniense ) of Blessed John Duns Scotus Is Comple
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1 This translation of Book III Distinctions 1 to 17 of the Ordinatio (aka Opus Oxoniense) of Blessed John Duns Scotus is complete. These distinctions fill volume nine of the Vatican critical edition of the Latin text edited by the Scotus Commission in Rome and published by Quarrachi. [Note that distinctions 18 to 25 are lacking in Scotus’ Ordinatio. Their place is filled here in an appendix from Antonius Andreas, one of Scotus’ more faithful followers.] 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. In addition there are passages where not only the argumentation but the grammar too is obscure, and I cannot vouch for the success of my attempts to penetrate the obscurity. So, for these and the like reasons, comments and notice of errors from readers are most welcome. Peter L.P. Simpson April, 2018 2 THE ORDINATIO OF BLESSED JOHN DUNS SCOTUS Book Three First Distinction First Part (Page 12) On the Possibility of the Incarnation Question 1: Whether it was Possible for Human Nature to be United to the Word in Unity of Supposit Num. 1 I. To the Question Num. 13 A. What is to be Understood by ‘Personal Union’ Num. 14 B. How Personal Union is Possible on the Part of the Person Assuming Num. 17 C. How Personal Union is Possible on the Part of the Assumed Nature Num. 22 1. The Opinion of Others Num. 23 2. Rejection of the Opinion Num. 26 3. Scotus’ own Opinion Num. 31 a. Two Possible Ways of Solution Num. 33 b. Arguments against the First Way Num. 36 c. Arguments against the Second Way Num. 40 d. What one should Think about the Two Ways Num. 44 e. To the Arguments against the Second Way Num. 48 4. A Doubt Num. 53 II. To the Principal Arguments A. To the Common Arguments Num. 62 B. To the Special Arguments 1. To the Argument on the Part of the Nature that is united Num. 67 2. To the Arguments on the Part of that which Assumes Num. 70 3. To the Argument on the Part of the Union Num. 84 Question 2: Whether the Three Persons can Assume Numerically the Same Nature Num. 85 I. To the Question A. Opinion of Others 1. Exposition of the Opinion Num. 93 2. Weighing of the Opinion Num. 96 B. Scotus’ own Opinion Num. 102 1. Whether the First Term of the Union is the Three Persons Num. 103 3 2. Whether the First Term of the Union is the per se Existing Essence Num. 108 II. To the Principal Arguments on Both Sides Num. 110 III. To the Arguments for the Opinion of Others Num. 116 IV. Objection to Scotus’ Opinion and its Solution Num. 119 Question 3: Whether One Person can Assume Several Natures Num. 123 I. To the Question Num. 127 II. To the Principal Arguments Num. 128 Question 4: Whether a Created Supposit can Hypostatically Instantiate a Different Created Nature than the One that it has Num. 133 I. To the Question Num. 137 A. On the First Way of Instantiating, that is by Efficient Causality Num. 138 B. On the Second Way of Instantiating, that is Terminatively Num. 139 II. To the Principal Arguments when Holding to the Negative Side of the Question Num. 149 III. To the Argument for the Opposite when Holding to the Affirmative Side of the Question Num. 152 Second Part (Page 39) On the Fact of the Incarnation Single Question: Whether the Formal Reason of Being the Term for the Union of the Human Nature with the Word is the Word’s Relative Property Num. 153 I. To the Question Num. 164 A. What the Property is that Constitutes a Person 1. Reasons and Responses of those who Think that the Persons are Constituted by Relations Num. 165 2. Rejection of the Aforesaid Reasons and Responses Num. 177 a. About the Special Reasons and Responses Num. 178 b. About the Conclusion in Itself Num. 207 B. Whether a Personal Property is the Formal Reason of Terminating the Union of the Human Nature with the Word Num. 211 C. Solution of the Question Num. 220 II. To the Arguments Num. 221 III. To the Reasons Adduced for the Opinion that Holds the Persons to be Constituted by Absolutes Num. 224 4 Appendix A and B (page 60) Second Distinction (Page 62) Question 1: Whether a Nature immediately United Hypostatically to the Word and not Having Joy Involves a Contradiction Num. 1 I. To the Question Num. 8 A. Opinion of Henry of Ghent Num. 9 1. An Assumed Nature Naturally Fit to have Joy cannot not have Joy a. Exposition of the Opinion Num. 10 b. Rejection of the Opinion Num. 15 2. A Nature not Naturally Fit for Enjoyment cannot be Assumed a. Exposition of the Opinion Num. 24 b. Rejection of the Opinion Num. 25 B. Scotus’ own Opinion Num. 32 II. To the Principal Arguments Num. 34 III. To the Arguments of Henry of Ghent A. As to the First Article Num. 41 B. As to the Second Article Num. 45 IV. Conclusion Num. 46 Question 2: Whether the Word assumed the Whole of Human Nature First and Immediately Num. 47 I. To the Question Num. 56 A. About the Intrinsic Medium 1. The Opinion of Others Num. 57 2. Scotus’ own Opinion Num. 65 3. Three Doubts against Scotus’ Opinion a. Statement of the Doubts Num. 72 b. Solution of the Doubts Num. 73 c. To the Authority of the Commentator Adduced in the First Doubt Num. 86 B. About the Extrinsic Medium Num. 87 II. To the Principal Arguments Num. 92 Question 3: Whether the Organization and Animation of the Body Preceded the Incarnation Num. 99 I. To the Question Num. 104 A. Of Priority in Time Num. 105 1. Of the Order of Animation in Relation to Incarnation Num. 106 2. Of the Order of Organization in Relation to Animation Num. 108 B. Of Priority in Nature Num. 114 II. To the Principal Arguments Num. 115 5 Third Distinction (Page 85) Question 1: Whether the Blessed Virgin was Conceived in Original Sin Num. 1 I. To the Question A. The Common Opinion 1. Exposition of the Opinion Num. 14 2. Rejection of the Opinion a. Against the First Reason Num. 17 b. Against the Second Reason Num. 26 B. Scotus’ own Response Num. 28 C. Objections and their Solution Num. 35 II. Response to the Arguments while Holding that the Blessed Virgin was not Conceived in Original Sin A. To the Principal Arguments Num. 41 B. To the Arguments Given for the Common Opinion Num. 42 C. Specifically to the Arguments of Bernard Num. 52 Question 2: Wherefore and How Christ’s Body did not Contract Original Sin as Other Bodies did Num. 54. I. On a First Way of Speaking Num. 55 II. On a Second Way of Speaking Num. 59 A. First Way Num. 60 B. Alternative Way Num. 64 Fourth Distinction (Page 96) Single Question: Whether the Blessed Virgin was truly Mother of God and man Num. 1 I. To the Question Num. 12 II. A Doubt Num. 15 A. First Opinion 1. Exposition of the Opinion Num. 16 2. Rejection of the Opinion Num. 19 B. Second Opinion 1. Exposition of the Opinion Num. 26 2. Rejection of the Opinion Num. 28 C. Third Opinion 1. Statement of the Opinion Num. 30 2. Rejection of the Opinion Num. 31 D. Scotus’ own Opinion Num. 37 1. On the Action of the Mother in the Formation of Our Bodies Num. 38 2. On the Action of the Blessed Virgin in the Formation of Christ’s Body Num. 39 3. A Doubt about the Mother’s Action through Seed-Reason Num. 52 III. Other Doubts on the Question Num. 57 IV. To the Principal Arguments Num. 62 V. To the Arguments for the First Opinion Num. 69 6 Fifth Distinction (Page 107) Question 1:Whether the Divine Nature assumed Human Nature or was Able to Assume it Num. 1 Question 2: Whether a Created Person was Assumed or was Able to be Assumed Num. 6 I. To the First Question A. Solution Num. 12 B. To the Principal Arguments Num. 15 II. To the Second Question A. Solution Num. 18 B. To the Principal Arguments Num. 21 Sixth Distinction (Page 109) Question 1:Whether in Christ there is some Existing other than Uncreated Existing Num. 1 I. To the Question Num. 7 A. The Opinion of Others 1. Exposition of the Opinion Num. 11 2. Rejection of the Opinion Num. 16 B. Scotus’ own Opinion Num. 31 II. To the Principal Arguments Num. 43 III. To the Arguments for the Opinion of Others Num. 48 IV. To the First and Second Reasonings in the Solution of the Question Num. 49 Question 2: Whether Christ is a Two Num. 50 I. To the Question Num. 60 II. To the Principal Arguments Num. 61 Question 3: Which of the Three Opinions that the Master Reports should be Held Num.