Dist. 40, Divisio Textus
Book II: On the Creation of Things · Distinction 40
## COMMENTARIUS IN DISTINCTIONEM XL.
Qualiter actus et opera ex affectu et fine vel rectificantur, vel depravantur.
Post haec de actibus adiiciendum videtur etc.
DIVISIO TEXTUS.
Supra ostendit Magister, qualiter voluntas ex fine habeat rectificari et depravari. In hac parte intendit ostendere, qualiter actus et opera rectificari habeant et depravari ex affectu et fine. Et quoniam obliquum habet cognosci per rectum1, et malum per bonum; ideo pars ista habet duas. In prima parte inquirit Magister, quomodo intentio faciat opus bonum. In secunda parte inquirit, quomodo ex obliquitate intentionis sive voluntatis habeat fieri opus malum, infra2: Cumque intentio, ut supra dictum est, opus bonum faciat etc.
Prima pars dividitur in duas partes. In quarum prima Magister ostendit, quod actus pensari habeant boni vel mali ex intentione et fine. In secunda quaerit, utrum generaliter hoc sit verum, quod bonitas operum causetur ex bonitate intentionis, ibi: Sed quaeritur, utrum omnia opera hominis etc.
Et illa secunda pars subdividitur in tres partes. In quarum prima recitat diversorum opiniones. In secunda confirmat alteram illarum3 auctoritate Augustini, ibi: Sed Augustinus evidentissime docet etc. In tertia vero redit ad confirmanda reliqua, ibi: Quae tamen quidam contendunt etc.
TRACTATIO QUAESTIONUM.
Ad intelligentiam autem huius partis, in qua Magister principaliter agit de bonitate operum, quam habent ex intentione, incidit hic quaestio circa duo.
Et primo quaeritur de bonitate, quam opera ab intentione recipiunt.
Secundo vero quaeritur de bonitate, quam opera intentioni superaddunt.
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## COMMENTARY ON DISTINCTION XL.
How acts and works are either rectified or made depraved by affection and end.
After these matters concerning acts, it seems that the following must be added, etc.
DIVISION OF THE TEXT.
Above, the Master showed how the will is rectified and made depraved by the end. In this part he intends to show how acts and works are to be rectified and made depraved by affection and end. And since the oblique is known through the straight1, and evil through good, therefore this part has two [parts]. In the first part the Master inquires how the intention makes a work good. In the second part he inquires how, from the obliquity of the intention or of the will, a work comes to be made evil, below2: And when the intention, as was said above, makes a work good, etc.
The first part is divided into two parts. In the first of these the Master shows that acts are to be weighed as good or evil from the intention and the end. In the second he asks whether this is universally true, that the goodness of works is caused by the goodness of the intention, there: But it is asked whether all the works of man, etc.
And that second part is subdivided into three parts. In the first of these he recounts the opinions of various persons. In the second he confirms one of them3 by the authority of Augustine, there: But Augustine most evidently teaches, etc. In the third, however, he returns to confirming the remaining matters, there: Which things, nevertheless, certain persons contend, etc.
TREATMENT OF THE QUESTIONS.
Now for the understanding of this part, in which the Master principally treats of the goodness which works have from the intention, a question here arises concerning two things.
And first it is asked about the goodness which works receive from the intention.
Second, however, it is asked about the goodness which works add over and above to the intention.
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- Secundum Aristot., de quo cfr. supra pag. 880, nota 4. Idem III. de Anima, text. 23 (c. 6.) docet, malum cognosci per bonum.According to Aristotle, concerning whom cf. above p. 880, note 4. The same author, in De Anima III, text 23 (c. 6), teaches that evil is known through good.
- Dist. 41.Distinction 41.
- Vat. aliorum.The Vatican edition reads aliorum (of others). ---