III. “The Consideration of God through His Image Imprinted in our Natural Powers” by Bonaventure

Recall that Bonaventure asked his readers to consider the order inherent in the natural world in ch. I and the way that order made impressions of proportionality and delight on our sensory processes in ch. II. Here in ch. III what is Bonaventure asking his readers to consider in §1? He claims that when you perform this activity, you will discover three powers of the mind. Can you identify them? [If you are having difficulty, look ahead to the last sentence of §4.]

Notice that §2 & §3 are omitted in this selection from the Itinerarium. What “power” of the mind is he analyzing in §4? [And by implication, what “powers” were treated in §2 & §3?] What parts does it consist of? What is the “structure” of Bonaventure’s argument regarding “counsel”? Regarding “judgment”? Regarding “desire”? Notice that there is a similar pattern in each instance, namely that a certain principle is necessary for each of the three parts to operate. What is this? Does this appear convincing to you in any way?

Bonaventure provides his interpretation of the traditional biblical and Christian claim that humans are created in the “image” of God in §6 on the basis of the structure of our internal faculties. He establishes a foundation for all human intellectual activity on the basis of this interpretation. Can you express what it is? Does something like this appear helpful in our cultural context?