La metafisica di Giovanni da Ripa. Le distinctiones 2, 3 e 8 del Commento Sentenziario: edizione del testo e studio dottrinale

Abstract

The aim of this Doctoral work is double: (a) to offer the complete edition of three important distinctiones – the second, the third and the eighth – coming from the Sentence Commentary of the Franciscan John of Ripa, who lectured in Paris in the period 1354-1358. These three distinctiones constitute a homogeneous group of questions dealing with the metaphysical issues of the existence and nature of God (immensitas) in its distinction from the nature of created beings (infinitas/finitas), together with the original mechanism called replicatio unitatis divinae which regulates the generation of all created beings [Distinctio 2], the analogy between God and creatures, with the lucid restriction – consciously elaborated after Duns Scotus – of the univocity in the sole created domain [Distinctio 3], and the formal distinction between all the perfectiones originally contained in the divine essence, which do not introduce any form of multiplicity in the Unity of the supersimplex (immensa) divine essence [Distinctio 8]; (b) to offer an elaborated study of the themes present in these distinctiones, not only regarding to Ripa’s thought, but also through the analysis of related philosophical perspectives (Hugolinus of Orvieto, Pierre Ceffons, John of Mirecourt, Francis de Mayronis, Francis of Appignano, Gregory of Rimini and William of Ockham). This duplex intent is reflected in the two volumes which compose this thesis, which aims to discover the thought of a long-time underestimated philosopher. [edited by author]