F-eflq: Johannes Versor, Quaestiones super libros Posteriorum Aristotelis, book II, questions 1, 2 and 8
The bifolium carries part of Johannes Versor's question-commentary on Aristotle's Posterior Analytics, book II: the end of question 1 (whether every question is a question about the middle term), question 2 (whether definition and demonstration are of the same thing) and question 8 (whether the "what it is" can be hunted by dividing a genus by its differences). The wording is close to the printed Versor but reworded and shortened throughout.
The Fragmentarium record describes a trimmed paper bifolium, Gent, Universiteitsbibliotheek, HS.2582/298, 214 x 172 mm, in cursive script, dated 1501-1525 and catalogued as an "Unidentified philosophical text" with no description. The subject heading fits; the record names no author, work or base text. The catalogue date has not been reassessed.
- Identification: identified, high. On all four pages the manuscript has the same questions, the same order of arguments and conclusions, and long runs of the same wording as Versor's questions on Posterior Analytics II, in three separate questions. It is not a straight copy of the printed text: it is reworded and shortened against both Cologne prints compared (Heinrich Quentell, about 1487, and Quentell, 23 July 1497, which agree with each other at these places), and some of its departures move towards the wording of Thomas Aquinas's exposition, on which Versor depends. It may be a recension, that is, a distinct version of Versor's text, or a lecturer's light reworking of it; this was not settled. Alternatives considered: Thomas Aquinas, Expositio Posteriorum II, is the source layer but has no questions, no "documenta" and reads "Alcibiades" where the manuscript has "hercules"; the Cologne Copulata novae logicae (attributed to Lambertus de Monte) was read at the same place and excluded as the containing work, because it is a running exposition without these question titles, arguments, "documenta" or conclusions. The Copulata also glosses Alcibiades as Hercules, so "Hercules" is a Cologne-school gloss and not peculiar to Versor. Gerardus de Harderwijck and Petrus Tartaretus were not tested.
- Transcription: source-assisted selected reading of seven passages. The image-only first reading was made by an isolated reader before any source was known and covers most of both faces. A research reader reread on the image, with Versor's text at hand, the opening of question 2 (fol. 1v col. a), the "documenta" (fol. 2r col. b), the magnanimity example (fol. 2v col. a), the "supra lunam" passage (fol. 1r col. b) and fol. 2v col. b; two further passages quoted below (fol. 1r col. a and fol. 1v col. b) rest on the first reading alone. The hand is a fast, heavily abbreviated cursive and the lower inner columns are lost or skinned. Accuracy has not been measured.
- Verification: a research reader compared the manuscript passages with page images of the Quentell print of about 1487 (Munich copy), read question 8 again in the 1497 print, and read the same place in the Copulata and in Thomas's text (Corpus Thomisticum transcription). The coordinator read the magnanimity passage on the image (fol. 2v col. a, "ut si velimus habere diffinitionem magnanimitatis ... hercules achilles et aiax"). No human review. Not covered: the Cologne 1486 edition by Konrad Welker (the digitised Munich copy holds only the Old Logic part) and any non-Cologne edition; the lowest lines of every inner column; a full collation of any page.
Textual evidence
Manuscript: [canvas "fol. [2]v-[1]r"](https://eu-img02.ext.exlibrisgroup.com/iiif/2/eyJyZWdpb24iOiJldS1jZW50cmFsLTEiLCJidWNrZXQiOiJldS1zdDAxLmV4dC5leGxpYnJpc2dyb3VwLmNvbSIsImtleSI6IjMyUlVHX0lOU1Qvc3RvcmFnZS9hbG1hLzQ0LzczLzQ2LzM2LzcwL0MwLzU3LzMyLzQyLzdGL0ZGLzZEL0IyLzU4LzY3L0JDLzkxMDAwMDIyMjQ5M18yMDIyXzAwMDFfTUEuanBnIiwicmVwX2lkIjoiMTIyNzY0MTM4NjAwMDkxNjEiLCJpbnN0YW5jZSI6ImV1MDYiLCJpbnN0aXR1dGlvbiI6IjMyUlVHX0lOU1QiLCJ3aWR0aCI6bnVsbCwiaGVpZ2h0IjpudWxsLCJ3bUtleSI6bnVsbCwid21XaWR0aCI6bnVsbCwid21IZWlnaHQiOm51bGwsIndtUG9zaXRpb24iOm51bGwsIndtUmVwZWF0IjpmYWxzZX0%3D/full/10627,/0/default.jpg) (native width 10627 px; fol. 2v is the left half, fol. 1r the right half) and [canvas "fol. [1]v-[2]r"](https://eu-img02.ext.exlibrisgroup.com/iiif/2/eyJyZWdpb24iOiJldS1jZW50cmFsLTEiLCJidWNrZXQiOiJldS1zdDAxLmV4dC5leGxpYnJpc2dyb3VwLmNvbSIsImtleSI6IjMyUlVHX0lOU1Qvc3RvcmFnZS9hbG1hLzQ0LzczLzQ2LzM2LzcwL0MwLzU3LzMyLzQyLzdGL0ZGLzZEL0IyLzU4LzY3L0JDLzkxMDAwMDIyMjQ5M18yMDIyXzAwMDJfTUEuanBnIiwicmVwX2lkIjoiMTIyNzY0MTM4NjAwMDkxNjEiLCJpbnN0YW5jZSI6ImV1MDYiLCJpbnN0aXR1dGlvbiI6IjMyUlVHX0lOU1QiLCJ3aWR0aCI6bnVsbCwiaGVpZ2h0IjpudWxsLCJ3bUtleSI6bnVsbCwid21XaWR0aCI6bnVsbCwid21IZWlnaHQiOm51bGwsIndtUG9zaXRpb24iOm51bGwsIndtUmVwZWF0IjpmYWxzZX0%3D/full/10660,/0/default.jpg) (native width 10660 px; fol. 1v left, fol. 2r right). Each page has two columns. Native-pixel boxes (x0,y0,x1,y1): fol. 1r col. a about 5100,1700,7900,3300; fol. 1r col. b 7800,0,10627,1500; fol. 1v col. a 100,700,2500,2300; fol. 1v col. b top about 2400,0,5600,2500; fol. 2r col. b 7900,0,10660,1800; fol. 2v col. a 100,2900,2700,4500; fol. 2v col. b 2600,0,5300,3200. Abbreviations are expanded silently; ? marks an uncertain word, [...] an unread or lost stretch.
| Manuscript | Versor, [Köln: Quentell, about 1487] |
|---|---|
| fol. 1r col. a (first reading): "questio si est querit de [esse] simpliciter [...] ut utrum homo sit, sed qui[a] est querit de [esse] rei in comp[...] ut utrum homo sit al[bus] [...] si queratur quid est defectus lune respondetur quod est privatio luminis lune propter interpositionem terre inter solem et lunam et si queratur propter quid est defectus idem respondetur" | scan 100, q. 1, first doubt: "questio si est formaliter querit de esse simpliciter. Secunda vero querit de esse in parte ut cum dicitur homo est albus [...] si queratur quid est defectus lune Respondetur quod est privatio luminis lune propter interpositionem terre inter solem et lunam. Et si queratur propter quid luna deficit illud idem respondemus" |
| fol. 1r col. b: "[...] invento cessat dubitatio sed invento medio cessat omnis dubitatio et questio ergo omnis questio [est] questio medii. minor? probatur [...] quia si aliquis esset supra lunam tempore ecl[ipsis] [...] lune et videret terram interpositam? [...] non amplius quereret [...] omnia essent sibi manifesta" | scan 100, q. 1, second doubt ("utrum omnis questio vere scibilis sit questio medii"): "illius est questio quo invento cessat dubitatio sed habito medio cessat quelibet questio Igitur omnis questio est questio medii. Minorem probat nam si quis esset supra lunam tempore eclipsis visu videret [...]" |
| fol. 1v col. a: "Utrum alicuius eius[dem ... sit diffinitio] et demonstratio. primo quod sic [...] est diffinitio et etiam demonstratio [...] medium demonstrationis [...] [ergo quod scitur per] diffinitionem scitur per demonstrationem [...] diffinitio est tota demonstratio ergo [...] In oppositum [...] textu" | scan 100, q. 2: "Queritur secundo Utrum alicuius eiusdem sit diffinitio et demonstratio. Arguitur quod sic primo quia passionis est diffinitio et etiam demonstratio igitur. Secundo arguitur diffinitio est medium demonstrationis igitur quod scitur per demonstrationem scitur per diffinitionem [...] Tertio arguitur quedam diffinitio est tota demonstratio. Igitur eiusdem sunt illa diffinitio et demonstratio. In oppositum est philosophus in textu." |
| fol. 1v col. b (first reading): "quod non omnium quorum est demonstratio [est] diffinitio probatur [...] quia omne illud quod pertinet ad quod quid est predicatur universaliter et affirmative sed diffinitio indicat quod quid est ergo solum continet illa que [...] negative [...] particular[es]" | scan 101, q. 2 (part of the page read): "[...] omne quod pertinet [ad] quod quid est predicatur universaliter et affirmative [...] indicat quod quid est igitur diffinitio solum continet [...] universaliter et affirmative predicantur sed multe sunt [...] negative ut in secunda figura [...] igitur non omnium quorum est demonstratio [est] diffinitio" |
| fol. 2r col. b: "[...] documenta. primum est quod oportet accipere genus sub quo continetur species diffinienda et hoc poterit cognosci per coordinationem predicabilem?. 2m est quod accipiende sunt primo differentie generis et si ille sint nobis ignote tunc accipiende sunt passiones? generis [...] ad hoc quod aliquis debite constituat diffinitionem oportet ipsum tria facere. primum est quod illa que ponuntur in diffinitione predicentur de eo [in] quod quid est et hoc poterunt observari considerando ea que dicta sunt [...] ad terminandum problemata generis" (from "primum est quod illa" on: first reading) | scan 110, q. 8, "Sciendum primo": "Et circa primum modum ponit philosophus aliqua documenta. Primum est quod oportet accipere genus sub quo continetur species diffinienda quod poterit cognosci per coordinationes predicamentales. Secundum est quod accipiende sunt differentie per se per quas dividitur. et si differentie essentiales sint ignote accipiende sunt passiones consequentes illa genera. Et ad hoc quod aliquis debite constituat diffinitionem oportet tria considerare. primum est quod ea que ponuntur in diffinitione predicentur in eo quod quid est quod poterit observari per ea que dantur ad terminandum probleuma generis" |
| fol. 2v col. a: "[...] ut si velimus habere diffinitionem magnanimita[tis] debemus attendere ad quosdam magnanimos et videre an habeant aliquod idem? ut fuit hercules achilles et aiax qui habuerunt illud [commune] quod non potuerunt tollerare iniurias propter quod primus dimicavit 2us in insaniam [...] interfecit se ipsum [...] oportet videre ad alios magnanimos [...] ad lisandrum et socratem qui habebant hoc commune" (from "quod non potuerunt" on: first reading) | scan 110, q. 8, "Sciendum secundo": "Exemplum textus est ut si velimus habere diffinitionem magnanimitatis oportet attendere ad quosdam magnanimos qui habent aliquod commune ut sunt hercules et achylles et aiax qui erant magnanimi habentes illud commune scilicet non posse tolerare iniurias, ratione cuius primus dimicavit secundus insanivit et tertius interfecit se ipsum. Item debemus considerare in aliis magnanimis ut in Lisandro Alexandro et Socrate qui hoc commune habebant quod nec mutabantur in prosperis nec in adversis" |
| fol. 2v col. b: "[...] quod est non tollerare iniurias et videamus ulterius si habent? de prosperis et de adversis et inveniemus quod est se reputare dignum magnis, propter quod quidam non tollerabat iniurias et econverso bona et mala fortune despiciebat et ergo ratio magnanimitatis consistit in hoc [...] dignum magnis. prima conclusio [...] est utilis ad venandum quod quid est [...] tamen non [...] valet ad demonstrandum quod quid [est]" | scan 110, q. 8: "Deinde videndum est si hec duo [...] habeant aliquod commune quod sit causa utriusque. Et si sic in hoc consistit ratio magnanimitatis. Et possumus dicere quod utrumque contingit propter hoc quia aliquis reputat se dignum magnis, ideo non vult pati iniurias et etiam contemnit bona fortune [...] Conclusio prima. Divisio generis per differentias est utilis ad venandum quod quid est, non tamen ad demonstrandum ipsum ut prius dicebatur" |
Differences. The manuscript rewords in almost every sentence: "debemus attendere" for "oportet attendere"; "oportet ipsum tria facere" for "oportet tria considerare"; "differentie generis" for "differentie per se per quas dividitur"; "passiones generis" for "passiones consequentes illa genera"; "non potuerunt tollerare" for "non posse tolerare"; "et hoc poterit" for "quod poterit". Its second list of magnanimous men is "lisandrum et socratem", where both prints add Alexander. The 1497 print was read at question 8 and has the 1487 wording at each of these places. Two of the manuscript's departures ("debemus attendere"; Lysander and Socrates without Alexander) agree with Thomas Aquinas, Expositio Posteriorum II, lectio 16, and with the Copulata; the rest of what the manuscript shares with Versor is in neither. The print's display headings (Sciendum, Conclusio, Dubitatur) appear in the manuscript only as marginal labels such as "prima conclusio" and "tertia conclusio". The source-assisted readings were made with Versor's text at hand, and "hercules" was first read after seeing it.
Editions used. Versor: Versor super omnes libros nove logice, [Köln: Heinrich Quentell, about 1487], GW M50242, ISTC iv00248100, Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, scan 100, scan 101, scan 110; and Köln: Heinrich Quentell, 23 July 1497, GW M50243, scan 142. Both are entered under Johannes Versor in the Gesamtkatalog der Wiegendrucke and ISTC, and the title names him; the colophons were not read, and no literature on the authorship of Versor's logic questions was consulted. Copulata novae logicae, [Köln: Heinrich Quentell], 7 March 1493, GW 2403, Munich copy, scan 244 and scan 245. Thomas Aquinas, Expositio libri Posteriorum II, Corpus Thomisticum.
Leaf order and limits
The text gives the order fol. 1r, 1v, 2r, 2v, in agreement with the canvas labels: fol. 1 has questions 1 and 2, fol. 2 has question 8, so questions 3 to 7 stood on leaves once nested inside this bifolium, unless the copy was selective. The lower third of each page is blank apart from a three-line addition at the foot of fol. 2v, and the surface around the fold carries offset from printed black-letter type, so the sheet was once in contact with printed matter. Nothing else is shown in the images.
No claim is made about the date or origin of the bifolium, about whether its wording represents a known manuscript version of Versor or a local reworking, or about its relation to any particular printed edition.