Harrison Jennings
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Translation: John of la Rochelle, Summa de Anima, Prologue and I.I.1
The Summa de Anima of the Teacher Brother Johannes de Rupella [John of la Rochelle] Prologue “If thou know not thyself, O fairest among women, go forth, and follow after the steps of the flocks” etc. [Cant. 1:7]. This word is proposed to you, rational soul, you who are the fairest (pulcherrima) of women, since…
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Origin Essentialism in St. Albert the Great
Came across the following passage from St. Albert’s De Universalibus which expresses a position in the neighborhood of something akin to origin essentialism or the necessity of origins: But the proper (proprium) or the singular (singulare) is what is imposed from an accidental form signifying a collection of accidents, which it is not possible to…
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Translatio: St. Albertus Magnus, Super Porphyrium De V universalibus, I.I.1
Begins the Logic [Books] of Brother Albert, O. P., when Bishop of Ratisbon Book I: On the Universals Tractate I: On the Antecedents to Logic Chapter 1. Whether Logic is a Special Science? In dealings [intendentibus] about logic, it is to be considered first what sort of science logic is and whether it is some…
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Translatio: St. Albertus Magnus, Summa Theologiae, Book I Prologue
Begins the first book on the mystery of the Trinity and Unity according to Brother Albert, professed of the Order of Preachers, once bishop of Ratisbon. “Thy knowledge is become wonderful to me: it is high, and I cannot reach to it” [1]. In this authority six things are noted, in which the science of…
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A Simple Argument for a First Cause from St. Albertus Magnus
In Peter Lombard’s Sentences, Book I, Distinction III, the Magister considers how God can be known from creatures. Later commentators will take the opportunity in their comments on this section to present arguments for the existence of God. St. Albertus Magnus reads the Lombard as providing four reasons “for proving that God exists, and is…
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Translatio: Scotus’s Lectura Proof of the Existence of God
[Preliminary notes: 1. The translation below is at times extremely wooden and clunky; this is because I have tried to translate as literally as possible. For clarification on a particular phrase or section, leave a comment below. 2. In the text, Scotus first gives the pro et contra arguments for Question 1, then the same…
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Are the Existential Acts of Created Beings Pure Act?
According to the Thomistic picture, individual created beings are compositions of essence and existential act (esse). The essence stands as potency to the esse which actuates it, resulting in an existing substance. In a paper I am working on and conferencing, I have made the point that the esse of finite (created) beings contains no…
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Translatio: John of St. Thomas, Cursus Philosophicus Thomisticus: Natural Philosophy, Part One, Proemium
Cursus Philosophicus Thomisticus Second Volume: Natural Philosophy First Part Proem. Philosophy, if it is taken in the whole breadth of its signification, includes every science, for Philosophy is said [to be] as if love or friendship of science: for which reason human reason is called Philosophy by St. Thomas in the preface [of the commentary…
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Translatio: Bonaventure’s Commentary on the Sentences, Prooemium (Part 1)
Prooemium Sancti Bonaventurae In Librum Primum Sententiarum [1] “He has searched the depths of rivers, and has brought forth into light hidden things” [profunda fluviorum scrutatus est, et abscondita produxit in lucem]. Job XXVII, 11 That word, which has been accepted from Job twenty-eight, having been considered more diligently by us uncovers the way for…
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Translatio: The “Defensiones Theologiae” of Capreolus, Prologue I.1
The following is the first in a translatio series which I hope to be an ongoing project translating ancient and medieval texts, especially lesser known texts or those which have not been translated. The translations will come in short bits. My emphasis in translations is on literality rather than style. I am also not a…
Disputed Questions 