The Scientific Demonstration

 

        A demonstration here is not taken in the modern sense of physical science, whose result is often contingent and subject to change when there is a new theoretical or

instrumental advance.

        It is a demonstration of necessity. A demonstration of the convenience of a predicate to a subject, v.gr. Quod anima est forma substantialis.   Positio

           *find the     * =enuntiatio alicuius de

            cause why       aliquo, e.g. on the soul that

            p in s.             it is said to be a form.

 

In Anal. Post. I,lc. 4.

 

Two kinds of demonstrations: one from final cause and the other from the material cause.

  f.c. = Syllogismus faciens scire.

  m.c. = Syllogismus ex veris, primis, immediatis, notioribus, prioribus,causisque conclusionis.

 

veris: Two premises to a true conclusion.  Both of them have to be true.  Ideally they should be first principles but in any case they should workable to the first principles.

 

immediatis: It appears immediately that the predicate is found in the subject.

 

notioribus: The premises are more known than the conclusion.

 

prioribus: What is first known and are efficient causes.

 

 

Instruments of the Argumentation

 

The definition and delimitation of the subject

 

Definition (όρισμóς): It is the act of the first operation after a long cognition giving to a thing its genus and constitutive difference. It is then assumed into a judgment. Functionally it is used to define sciences In Boethi de Trinitate. An habitus is specified. The subject is delimited. Afterward the research comes when the subject is defined.   In the quaesitum the passiones, the properties of the subject as well as the causes, are searched for. It circumscribes a certain theme -subiectum.   It is used in a certain question to demonstrate something of something, v.gr. Utrum homo sit risibilis: must define risibilis to know what it is and if it is proper to man's nature

 

DEFINITION AND DELIMITATION OF A SUBJECT

 

 

                             properties of subject

 

              research(quaesitum)

                                                        

                                               internal

                           

                             causes of subject

                                                   

                                               external

 

Scientia:----------------------------

 

              definition------- subiectum

              (delimitation of subject)

 

                 

Problema = quaestio ad solutionem proposita (quaestio est proprie problema dialecticum).   In a question whether the predicate convenes to the subject. It is to be seen whether they are compared or divided, announcing both parts of the contradiction. Anima est forma corporis aut non.  (A realist philosophy puts the proposition in front of reality to see what truly convenes, tertium non datur.) One of the contradictories is chosen and is resolved. Quaestiones disputatae: They are are form of problem.

 

Immediate Propositions

 

Whose predicate is included in the essence of the subject, it is a per se proposition, e.g. man is a rational animal. It is per accidens when it is not, e.g. man is white. Per se nota: known immediately to us with no need of a demonstration. Per se non quoad nos: The

essence of an angel is known intuitively to him but not to us.

 

Four kinds of per se propositions:

1. Primus modus per se: In the subject at least a part of the totality of its essence is present, v.gr. man is an animal. Have here genus only need difference to get species.

 

2. Secundus modus per se: P(redicate) is not part of the essence of S(ubject) but a property, something that flows from its essence, v.gr. man is a social animal.

 

3. Tertius Modus per se:  P is joined to the subsistence of S as a way of being rather than of being predicated of, v.gr. Petrus subsistit.

 

4. Quartus Modus per se:  Affirmation to a proper cause or effect, v.gr. currens currit, medicus curat.

 

Per accidens: medicus cantat, whatever proposition that is non convertible.

 

In every assertion there exist 5 possibilities: 4 per se and 1 per accidens. 

 

Propositio (πρóτασις):   Enuntiatio, assertio, thesis: quaestio simplex, non inducens problema et disputationem, sed simpliciter assertiomnem seu alterum problematis aspectum ut verum enuntians.  When it is an immediately per se nota quoad nos it has something in common to diverse sciences it is then it is called a dignitas, axioma, or maxima propositio.

 

Dignitas (axioma): v.gr. "quidquid recipitur ad modum recipientis recipitur"; "ordo agentium respondet ordini finium", etc.  Dignitates sunt principia pro omnibus seu per

se nota, ut in theologia " Deus est summe bonus et iustus", "ne allis feceris quod tibi non vis fieri".

 

Positio: Assertio, affirmatio, thesis, propositio (θεσις), cuius rationes reapse interim ignorantur.  They are non-dignities but per se propositions, often need demonstration.

 

Suppositio (αιτημα): Est unum ex principis communibus ratiocinandi; est propositio quae non est per se nota nec potest probari, nisi per principia alterius scientiae, et ideo oportet quod in illa scientia supponatur, licet probetur per principia alterius scientiae (S.Th. I Annal. 5e).  In theologia sunt quidam articuli fidei, qui non sunt humanae menti naturaliter impressi, h.e. per se noti, ut de Trinitate personarum et Incarnatione.   Ex iis eliciuntur conclusionis.  

 

Auctoritas: Propositions from scripture, councils, Fathers expressing a truth by way of supposition.  Usually about truths of faith.

 

[Springhetti, E., Latinitas Fontium Philosophiae Scholasticae, P.A.S., 1967, Roma et ex lectionibus Alain Contat, PH.D.]