Original scientific paper

Regnum hominis vs. regnum dei and regnum naturae

Erna Banić-Pajnić ; Institut za filozofiju, Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

Dudić, aware that his theses concerning the signification of the comet would be regarded as the "gravissimum crimen impietatis", being opposed to the common view holding the comets to be the heraIds, and even the causes of misfortunes in the earthly world, at the very beginning of his treatise "De cometarum significatione commentariolus" emphasizes that the opinions of the essence (de essentia) of the comet vary, argumenting his statement with the opinions of the ancient thinkers and with those of his famous contemporaries. He concurs with Aristotle's explanation, according to which these are "exhalationis aridae ignea congieris", yet also states that not even this, widely accepted explanation, is not completely trustworthy.
Judging from the begining of Dudić's treatise, which deals with the essence of the comet, one could conclude that the treatise is concerned of the problems of natural science. Dudić, however, after the introductory part points out that the main topic of the treatise is to be the question of the possibility of the divination from the appearance of a comet; it follows that the treatise is primarily of antropological character.
Further in the treatise Dudić explicates his viewpoint, according to which the thesis of the comets as heralds and causes of the future contingency cannot be scientifically founded. He, above all, tries to solve the dilema whether comets are miracles or natural events. He conducts the discussion on two levels, i. e. on the basis of theologic and scientific argumentation.
Dudić also tries to establish the basic methodological principles of scientific investigation of events and their interrelations, so he emphasizes the inevitability of reliance on (one's own) senses and reason, of reliance on one's own perceptions, not on the testimonies and persumptions of others, and the inevitability of a critical relation toward the traditional teachings, especially those the authors of which are such authorities as Aristotle. It is by following the principles of scientific investigation thus established that Dudić, "non levis rationibus et experientia adductus", reached the conclusions mentioned above.
Dudić insists on distinguishing three spheres - regnum dei, regnum naturae and regnum hominis - in order to carry out the scientific investigation of the possibility of bringing the appearance of the comet into a cause-and-effect relationship with events of human world, on one hand, and in order to affirm the regnum hominis as an independent and separate sphere of events originating of human spirits, its free will and decision, because of which it is independent in its actions - independent both from god and natural events - on the other.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

81864

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/81864

Publication date:

2.12.1991.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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