Boethius of Dacia (1270s) and Radulphus Brito (1290s) on the universal sign `every' (Q2354876)

This paper contains an analysis about the treatment of the universal quantifier in medieval logic, in particular in the works of Boethius of Dacia and Radulphus Brito. Its aim is in fact to focus on the interpretation given by these two late-13th century Parisian masters, a topic that is considered by the author as neglected so far in the literature. According to her view, Boethius and Radulphus give a priority to the linguistic and grammatical interpretation of the universal quantifier with respect to the logical one, in contrast to the treatment by William of Sherwood and Peter of Spain. In such treatment, ``every'' is rather regarded as a relational disposition determining a universal relation of attribution between the subject and the predicate. Brito, in contrast, tells us ``that the general and primary intention underlying the invention of `every' is the distribution of the common noun over its particular instances, which is the function given to it in the theoretical grammar'' (p. 202). One thing left to explain is the nature of such possible particular instances. The last part of the paper discusses in fact this problem, showing how these instances are to Brito primarily those existing at present time. This problem is related to the discussion about the admissibility of inferring the truth of individual and particular statements from that of universal propositions, and therefore the corresponding opinions of Brito and Boethius on this subject are analyzed.