PIRMASIS LOGIKOS AMŽIUS LIETUVOJE: GNOSEOLOGINIS UNIVERSALIJŲ TEORIJOS LYGMUO
The First Century of Logic in Lithuania: The Gnoseological Level of Theory of Universals

Summary/Abstract: M. Śmiglecki and D. Ortiz were the only representatives of the first century of professional logic in Lithuania (namely, the 16th century), having developed the so-called gnoseological level of universals' theory. In their courses on logic such a level was identical to the question: "How does the human intellect abstract universals from individual things?" Śmiglecki took a thomistic answer to this question, based on the concept of sensible and intelligible species and the distinction between active and passive intellect. Meanwhile, Ortiz presented an eclectic interpretation of the gnoseological level of universals theory. Such an interpretation may be regarded as an intermediate variant between the thomistic and ockhamistic position. For, together with thomists, Ortiz maintained that abstraction or universals requires an intelligible species. On the other hand, like adherents of Ockham, Ortiz rejected the real mediation of sensible species in sensual perception - the basis of intellective cognition. The interpretation of the gnoseological level of universals theory, presented by Śmiglecki and Ortiz, has not given a clear answer to the question: "Which natures - real or possessing a mental existence alone - does active intellect abstract from particular things?" Thus the abstracted universal remained suspended in the dark mist between intellect and thing.

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