John Ponce
Encyclopedia
John Ponce was an Irish Franciscan
scholastic philosopher and theologian.
He originated the classic formulation of Ockham's Razor, in the shape of the Latin phrase entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem, "entities are not to be multiplied unnecessarily".
and entered the novitiate of the Irish Franciscans in St. Antony's College, Louvain. He studied philosophy at Cologne
, began the study of theology in Louvain, under Hugh Ward and John Colgan, was called by Luke Wadding
to Rome, and admitted 7 September 1625, into the College of St. Isidore which had just been founded for the education of Irish Franciscans.
After receiving his degrees he was appointed to teach philosophy and later, theology in St. Isidore's. He lectured afterwards at Lyon
s and Paris, where he was held in great repute for his learning.
Punch succeeded Father Martin Walsh
in the government of the Ludovisian College at Rome for the education of Irish secular priests; and for some time he filled the position of superior of St. Isidore's. He had a passionate love of his country and was an active agent in Rome of the Irish Confederate Catholics. When dissensions arose among the Confederates, and when Richard Bellings
, secretary to the Supreme Council, published his Vindiciæ (Paris, 1652), attacking the Irish Catholics who remained faithful to the nuncio, Father Punch promptly answered with his "Vindiciae Eversae" (Paris, 1652). He had already warned the Confederates not to trust the Royalists. In a letter (2 July, 1644) to the agent of the Catholics, Hugo de Burgo, he says:
, he does not feel called upon to adopt all Scotus's proofs. Mastrius acknowledged the force of Ponce's reasoning and admitted that he had shed light on many philosophical problems. In 1652, Ponce published "Integer cursus theologiæ" (Paris). These two works explain with great clearness and precision the teaching of the Scotistic school. In 1661, he published at Paris his great work, "Commentarii theologici in quatuor libros sententiarum", called by Hurter opus rarissimum.
Ponce also assisted Luke Wadding in editing the works of Scotus. Wadding says that he was endowed with a powerful and subtle intellect, a great facility of communicating knowledge, a graceful style, and that though immersed in the severer studies of philosophy and theology he was an ardent student of the classics.
His other works are:
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
scholastic philosopher and theologian.
He originated the classic formulation of Ockham's Razor, in the shape of the Latin phrase entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem, "entities are not to be multiplied unnecessarily".
Life
His family name was John Punch. Ponce is a derivation of the Latin form of the surname: Poncius. At an early age, Punch went to BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and entered the novitiate of the Irish Franciscans in St. Antony's College, Louvain. He studied philosophy at Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, began the study of theology in Louvain, under Hugh Ward and John Colgan, was called by Luke Wadding
Luke Wadding
Luke Wadding was an Irish Franciscan friar and historian.-Life:Wadding was born in 16 October 1588 at Waterford to Walter Wadding of Waterford, a wealthy merchant, and his wife, Anastasia Lombard . Educated at the school of Mrs...
to Rome, and admitted 7 September 1625, into the College of St. Isidore which had just been founded for the education of Irish Franciscans.
After receiving his degrees he was appointed to teach philosophy and later, theology in St. Isidore's. He lectured afterwards at Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
s and Paris, where he was held in great repute for his learning.
Punch succeeded Father Martin Walsh
Martin Walsh
Martin Walsh is a film editor with more than 30 film credits dating from 1985. Walsh won the Academy Award for Film Editing and the ACE Eddie Award for the film Chicago...
in the government of the Ludovisian College at Rome for the education of Irish secular priests; and for some time he filled the position of superior of St. Isidore's. He had a passionate love of his country and was an active agent in Rome of the Irish Confederate Catholics. When dissensions arose among the Confederates, and when Richard Bellings
Richard Bellings
Richard Bellings was a lawyer and political figure in 17th century Ireland and in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. He is best known for his participation in Confederate Ireland, a short-lived independent Irish state, in which he served on the governing body called the Supreme Council...
, secretary to the Supreme Council, published his Vindiciæ (Paris, 1652), attacking the Irish Catholics who remained faithful to the nuncio, Father Punch promptly answered with his "Vindiciae Eversae" (Paris, 1652). He had already warned the Confederates not to trust the Royalists. In a letter (2 July, 1644) to the agent of the Catholics, Hugo de Burgo, he says:
- "the English report that the king will not give satisfaction to our commissioners (from the Confederates) though he keep them in expectation and to delay them for his own interest".
Works
In 1643 he published in Rome his Cursus philosophiæ. Some of his opinions were opposed by Mastrius, and Ponce replied in Appendix apologeticus (Rome, 1645), in which he says that although he accepts all the conclusions of Duns ScotusDuns Scotus
Blessed John Duns Scotus, O.F.M. was one of the more important theologians and philosophers of the High Middle Ages. He was nicknamed Doctor Subtilis for his penetrating and subtle manner of thought....
, he does not feel called upon to adopt all Scotus's proofs. Mastrius acknowledged the force of Ponce's reasoning and admitted that he had shed light on many philosophical problems. In 1652, Ponce published "Integer cursus theologiæ" (Paris). These two works explain with great clearness and precision the teaching of the Scotistic school. In 1661, he published at Paris his great work, "Commentarii theologici in quatuor libros sententiarum", called by Hurter opus rarissimum.
Ponce also assisted Luke Wadding in editing the works of Scotus. Wadding says that he was endowed with a powerful and subtle intellect, a great facility of communicating knowledge, a graceful style, and that though immersed in the severer studies of philosophy and theology he was an ardent student of the classics.
His other works are:
- "Judicium doctrinæ SS. Augustini et Thomæ", Paris, 1657;
- "Scotus Hiberniae restitutus", in answer to Father Angelus a S. FranciscoAngelus a S. FranciscoAngelus a S. Francisco was an English Franciscan writer.-Life:He was ordained priest at Douai four years after his profession in the Franciscan Order...
(Mason), who claimed Scotus as an Englishman; - "Deplorabilis populi Hibernici pro religione, rege et libertate status" (Paris, 1651).