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All Collections > The Ordinatio of John Duns Scotus > Ordinatio. Book 4. Distinctions 1 - 7 > book four. distinctions 1 - 7 > first distinction. first part. on the action of the creature in respect of the term of creation > single question. whether a creature can have any action with respect to the term of creation > i. opinion of the theologians, who hold to the negative side of the question > a. the four reasons they bring forward > 2. second reason
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The Ordinatio of John Duns Scotus
cover
Ordinatio. Book 4. Distinctions 1 - 7
Book Four. Distinctions 1 - 7
First Distinction. First Part. On the Action of the Creature in Respect of the Term of Creation
Single Question. Whether a Creature can have any Action with respect to the Term of Creation
I. Opinion of the Theologians, who Hold to the Negative Side of the Question
A. The Four Reasons they Bring Forward
2. Second Reason

2. Second Reason

19. The second principal reason is taken from the distance between the terms of creation, and it is as follows [e.g. Matthew of Aquasparta, Albert, Richard of Middleton, Henry of Ghent]: only an infinite power can extend over an infinite distance; but between the terms ‘from which’ and ‘to which’ of creation, namely between nothing and being, there is an infinite distance;     therefore etc     .

20. Proof of the major: the greater the distance the more difficult it is to traverse it and the greater the virtue required in the agent; for we see universally that the more that potentiality is distant from act the greater the power required of the agent to reduce it to act.

21. Proof of the minor: for any finite distance it is possible to take or understand a greater; but no greater distance can be understood than that between nothing and being.

22. The minor is confirmed because the distance between all contradictories is equal; therefore the distance between nothing and something is equal to the distance between God and not-God; but the distance between God and not-God is infinite; therefore it is infinite between other contradictories too.

23. Again, the minor is confirmed in another way, because the distance between two contradictories is equal to the distance between any contradictories. But between the totality of being and pure nothing there is an infinite distance (in the way that it is possible for infinites to be contained under the totality of being), and such that only an infinite power is able to traverse it. So there is an equal distance between soul and not-soul or any creatable thing and its negation.

24. From this middle term [n.19] the argument for the conclusion is formed in another way as follows: there is no proportion between no-power and some power, as neither between not-being and being; therefore there is no proportion between the distance of power from act and the distance of no-power from act; therefore there will be no proportion between the power that can traverse the latter distance and the power that can traverse the former.