Authors/Thomas Aquinas/posteriorum/L1/Lect21

Lecture 21 Of the questions, responses and disputations peculiar to each science

Latin	English
	Lecture 21 (77a36-77b15) THE QUESTIONS, RESPONSES AND DISPUTATIONS PECULIAR TO EACH SCIENCE
lib. 1 l. 21 n. 1 Postquam philosophus ostendit quomodo scientiae demonstrativae se habeant circa principia communia, hic ostendit quomodo se habeant circa propria. Et dividitur in duas partes: in prima, ostendit quod in qualibet scientia sunt propriae interrogationes, responsiones et disputationes; in secunda, ostendit quomodo in qualibet scientia sunt propriae deceptiones; ibi: quoniam autem sunt geometricae et cetera. Circa primum duo facit: primo, ostendit quod in qualibet scientia sunt propriae interrogationes; secundo, ostendit quod in qualibet scientia sunt propriae responsiones et disputationes; ibi: neque omnem interrogationem utique et cetera. Circa primum duo facit: primo, ostendit quod in qualibet scientia sunt interrogationes propriae; secundo, quae sunt illae; ibi: sed ex quibus aut demonstratur et cetera.	After showing how demonstrative sciences function in relation to common principles, the Philosopher now shows how they employ proper principles. And his treatment falls into two parts. In the first he shows that in each science there are questions, responses and disputations peculiar to each. In the second he shows how in each science there are deceptions, peculiar to each (77b16) [L. 22]. Concerning the first he does two things. First, he, shows that in each science there are its own questions. Secondly, that each science employs the responses and disputations proper to it (77b6). Concerning the first he does two things. First, he shows that in each science there are questions peculiar to each. Secondly, what these are (77a42).
lib. 1 l. 21 n. 2 Primum sic ostendit. Idem est secundum substantiam interrogatio syllogistica et propositio, quae accipit alteram partem contradictionis, licet in modo proferendi differant (hoc enim, quod ad interrogationem respondetur, assumitur ut propositio in aliquo syllogismo); in unaquaque autem scientia sunt propriae propositiones, ex quibus fit syllogismus: ostensum est enim quod quaelibet scientia ex propriis procedit; ergo in qualibet scientia est propria interrogatio. Non ergo quaelibet interrogatio est geometrica, vel medicinalis; et sic de aliis scientiis.	He shows the first (77a36) in the following way: A syllogistic question and a proposition which takes one definite side of a contradiction are the same as to content, but they have not the same function. For the answer which one gives to the question is made to serve as a proposition in some syllogism. But in each of the sciences, the propositions from which a syllogism is formed, are peculiar to it, for it has been shown that every science proceeds from things proper to it. Therefore, in each science there are questions peculiar to it. Hence not any random question is pertinent to geometry or to medicine or to some one of the other sciences.
lib. 1 l. 21 n. 3 Sciendum tamen est quod interrogatio aliter est in scientiis demonstrativis et aliter est in dialectica. In dialectica enim non solum interrogatur de conclusione, sed etiam de praemissis: de quibus demonstrator non interrogat, sed ea sumit quasi per se nota, vel per talia principia probata; sed interrogat tantum de conclusione. Sed cum eam demonstraverit, utitur ea, ut propositione, ad aliam conclusionem demonstrandam.	However, it should be noted that questioning occurs one way in demonstrative sciences and another way in dialectics. For in dialectics not only the conclusion but also the premises are open to question; but in demonstrative sciences the demonstrator takes premises as per se known or proved by such principles. Hence, he asks only about the conclusion. And when he has demonstrated it, he uses it as a proposition to demonstrate some other conclusion.
lib. 1 l. 21 n. 4 Deinde cum dicit: sed ex quibus etc., ostendit quae interrogationes sunt propriae unicuique scientiae. Et primo, in quantum assumuntur ut propositiones, ex quibus demonstrator procedit; secundo, in quantum sumuntur ut conclusiones; ibi: et de his quidem et cetera. Dicit ergo primo quod interrogationes geometricae sunt ex quibus demonstratur aliquid circa illa, de quibus est geometria, aut circa illa, quae demonstrantur ex principiis eiusdem geometriae; sicut illa, ex quibus demonstratur aliquid in speculativa scientia, idest in perspectiva, quae procedit ex principiis geometriae. Et quod dictum est de geometria, intelligendum est de aliis scientiis: quia scilicet propositio, vel interrogatio dicitur proprie alicuius scientiae, ex qua demonstratur vel in ipsa scientia, vel in scientia ei subalternata.	Then (77a42) he explains which questions are peculiar to each science. First, insofar as they are taken as propositions from which the demonstrator proceeds. Secondly, when taken as conclusions (77b2). He says therefore first (77a42) that geometric questions are ones from which something is demonstrated pertaining to matters of geometry or pertaining to matters demonstrated from the principles of geometry—for example, the ones from which something is demonstrated in optical science, i.e., perspective, which proceeds from the principles of geometry. And what is said of geometry applies to other sciences, namely, that a proposition or question is peculiar to a science, if it is one from which a demonstration in that science or in a subalternate science proceeds.
lib. 1 l. 21 n. 5 Deinde cum dicit: et de his quidem rationem etc., notificat geometricam interrogationem, prout est conclusio, dicens quod de interrogationibus geometricis ponenda est ratio, demonstrando scilicet veritatem ipsarum ex principiis geometricis et conclusionibus, quae per illa principia demonstrantur. Non enim cuiuslibet demonstrationis geometricae ratio redditur ex primis geometriae principiis, sed interdum ex his quae per prima principia sunt conclusa. Interrogationum autem, quae semper sunt conclusiones in demonstrativis scientiis, ratio reddi potest in eisdem, sed principiorum ratio non potest reddi a geometra, secundum quod geometra est. Et similiter est in aliis scientiis. Nulla enim scientia probat sua principia, secundum quod ostensum est supra. Dicit autem, secundum quod geometra est, quia contingit in aliqua scientia probari principia illius scientiae, in quantum illa scientia assumit principia alterius scientiae; sicut geometra probat sua principia secundum quod assumit formam philosophi primi, idest metaphysici.	Then (77b2) he analyzes geometric questions insofar as they are conclusions, saying that solutions to geometric questions must be proved by demonstrating their truth from geometric principles and from conclusions already demonstrated by those principles. (For sometimes the proofs of certain geometric demonstrations are not drawn from the first principles of geometry, but from matters concluded from those first principles). Hence when it is a matter of questions which are always conclusions in demonstrative sciences, the proof can be obtained in the science itself, but the proof of the principles cannot be drawn from geometry qua geometry. The same also applies to other sciences. For no science proves its own principles, as we have explained above. And he says, “from geometry qua geometry,” because it may happen that a science proves its own principles, insofar as that science assumes the principles of another science, as a geometer proves his own principles insofar as he assumes the role of first philosopher, i.e., of metaphysician.
lib. 1 l. 21 n. 6 Deinde cum dicit: neque omnem interrogationem etc., ostendit quod in qualibet scientia sunt propriae responsiones et disputationes. Et primo quod sint propriae responsiones; secundo, quod sint propriae disputationes; ibi: si autem disputat et cetera. Dicit ergo primo, quod ex praedictis patet quod non contingit unumquemque scientem de qualibet quaestione interrogare. Unde etiam patet quod non contingit de quolibet interrogato respondere: sed solum de his quae sunt secundum propriam scientiam: eo quod ad eamdem scientiam pertinet interrogatio et responsio.	Then (77b6) he shows that each has its own responses and disputations. First, that each has its own responses. Secondly, its own disputations (77b8). He says therefore (77b6) that from the foregoing it is clear that each scientific knower does not ask just any question whatever. Hence it is also clear that he will not answer just any random question but only those which conform to his own science on the ground that a question and its answer pertain to the same science.
lib. 1 l. 21 n. 7 Et quia ex interrogatione et responsione fit disputatio, consequenter ostendit quod in qualibet scientia est propria disputatio, dicens quod si disputet geometra cum geometra, secundum quod geometra, idest de his quae ad geometriam pertinent, manifestum est quod bene procedit disputatio, si tamen non solum fiat disputatio de eo quod est geometriae, sed etiam ex principiis geometricis procedatur. Si vero non sic fiat disputatio in geometria, non bene disputatur. Si enim aliquis disputet cum geometra non de geometricis, manifestum est quod non arguit, idest non convincit, nisi per accidens: puta si sit disputatio de musica et contingat geometram per accidens esse musicum. Unde manifestum est quod non est in non geometricis de geometria disputandum, quia non poterit iudicari per principia illius scientiae, utrum bene disputetur vel male. Et similiter se habet in aliis scientiis.	Then (77b8) because disputations are concerned with a question and its answer, he shows that there are disputations - peculiar to each science, saying that if geometer disputes with geometer precisely as geometer, i.e., in matters pertaining to geometry, then obviously the disputation goes well so long as the disputation not only concerns a point of geometry but proceeds from the principles of geometry. But it does not go well, if the disputation in geometry does not proceed along these lines. For if someone disputes with a geometer in matters alien to geometry, he does not argue, i.e., does not convince, except accidentally: for example, if the dispute concerns music, and the geometer accidentally happens to be a musician. Hence it is clear that one should not dispute in geometry about matters not geometric, because it will not be possible to judge by the principles of that science whether the dispute went favorably or unfavorably: and the same holds for other sciences.