Supposition theory and Porretan theology

Porretan theologians are important for those who are interested in medieval logic and semantics since they both create terminology and individuate problems. Certainly, they were basically motivated by the need of controlling the theological language and thus defending what they thought be the orthodox doctrines. Nevertheless, their theological motivation doesn’t prevent the followers of Gilbert of Poitiers from being genuinely fascinated by purely linguistic problems, at least as much as their master was. When investigating how Porretan theologians treated what medieval logicians called suppositio, we must consider two aspects: first, whether and how terms such as suppositum, supponere, suppositio have been used by Porretans; second, whether and how these masters reflected about problems connected to the reference of terms, using suppostio-terminology or not. In my contribution I try to investigate the Trinitarian section of the Summa Zwettlensis (before, apparently, 1150) and the Dialogus Ratii et Everardi (Everard of Ypres, 1191-1198) from these two points of view. In these treatises the suppositio-terminology appears in the context of the reflection about the reference of quasi-appellative names as Deus, both as such and in propositions. But we also find here semantic problems which are treated by logicians as suppositio-items analysed using other conceptual tools.