Statute of 1339 (University of Paris)

The statute of 1339 was a disciplinary statute issued in 1339 by the University of Paris. The first part prohibits the dogmatising of the work of William of Ockham, because the doctrine had not been admitted by the authorities, nor acknowledged as customary, nor examined by the authorities or other pertinent persons. The second part is a decree that "no Master, Bachelor or Scholar, should argue without the permission and license of Master holding the disputations", on account of the abuse that had developed in the Latin Quarter with Bachelors and others failing to show reverence to the Masters, and generally making such a tumult that debates were not productive.

The decree suggests that the controversy surrounding Ockham's doctrines had led to taking sides and disruption of the solemn disputations at the University. According to Moody, Bernard of Arezzo was a defender of the Ockhamist position, and Nicholas of Autrecourt a critic.

Latin	English
Cum igitur a praedecessoribus nostris non irrationabiliter motis circa libros apud nos legendos publice vel occulta certa praecesserit ordinatio per nos iurata observari, et quod aliquos libros per ipsos non admissos vel alias consuetos legere non debemus, et istis temporibus nonnulli doctrinam Guillermi dicti Okam (quamvis per ipsos ordinantes admissa non fuerit vel alias consueta, neque per nos see alios ad quos pertineat examinata, propter quod non videtur suspicione carere), dogmatizare praesumpserint publice et occulte super hoc in locis privatis conventicula faciendo: hinc est quod nos nostrae salutis memores, considerantes iuramentum quod fecimus de dicta ordinatione observanda, statuimus quod nullus de cetero praedictam doctrinam dogmarizare praesumat audiendo vel legendo publice vel occulte, necnon conventicula super dicta doctrina disputanda faciendo vel ipsum in lectura vel disputationibus allegando.	Since therefore, by our predecessors, who were not unreasonably concerned as to the books to be read publicly or privately among us, there was issued a certain ordinance which we have sworn to observe; and because we ought not to read certain books not admitted by them or in common use elsewhere; and since in these times not a few persons have presumed to dogmatize the doctrine of William called Ockham, in public and also by holding secret assemblies on this subject in private places—despite the fact that this doctrine had not been admitted by those in authority, nor acknowledged elsewhere as customary, nor examined by us or by others to whom this might pertain, for which reason it docs not appear to be free from suspicion; for this reason we, mindful of our well-being, and considering the oath which we made to observe the above mentioned ordinance, decree that no person shall presume to dogmatize the said doctrine, by listening to it or lecturing on it publicly or in private, or by holding assemblies for disputation concerning the said doctrine, or by citing it in lectures or disputations.
Insuper cum nobis liqueat manifeste quod in disputationibus quae fiunt in vico Straminum talis abusus inolevit quod bachellarii et alii in disputationibus dictis existentes propria auctoritate arguere praesumunt minus reverenter se habentes ad magistros, qui disputant, tumultum faciendo adeo ut in tantum quod haberi non potest conclusionis disputande veritas, nec dicte disputationes in aliquo sunt scolaribus audientibus fructuose; statuimus quod nullus magister, bachellarius aut scolaris, sine permissue et licentia magistri disputationes tenentis arguat.	Furthermore, since it is clearly evident to us that in the disputations which take place in the rue de Fouarre, such abuse has developed, that Bachelors and others present at the said disputes dare to argue on their own authority, showing very little reverence toward the Masters who are disputing, and making such a tumult that the truth of the conclusion being debated cannot be arrived at, so that the said disputations arc not in any way fruitful for the listening Scholars: we therefore decree that no Master, Bachelor or Scholar, should argue without the permission and license of Master holding the disputations.

References

• Moody, E. A., "Ockham, Buridan and Nicholas of Autrecourt", in J. Ross, ed. Inquiries into medieval philosophy (pp. 275-315), Westport, Greenwood publishing.