Question — Bontempi, Palladium Theologicum V · from Schola Thomistica
Question I: In what the contract of partnership consists, and what is required that it be just
THE RATIO of this contract consists in this, that some, having made a pact among themselves, and joined their goods fit for gaining — money, industry, or labor — wish by some trading, or even by a craft, or agriculture to make some common gain among themselves to be divided, prepared likewise to divide among themselves a common loss, if perchance they incur one.
In quo consistat CONTRACTUS SOCIETATIS, et quaenam requirantur, ut sit iustus.
RATIO huius contractus in eo consistit, ut aliqui inito inter se pacto, et coniunctis suis rebus ad lucrandum idoneis pecunia, industria, vel opera velint per negotiationem aliquam, sive etiam per opificium, aut agriculturam facere commune aliquod lucrum inter se dividendum, parati similiter ad dividendum inter se damnum commune, si quod forte incurrant.
THAT this contract is licit is plain ex Cod. et ff. pro socio, et cap. per vestras extra de donat. inter virum, et uxorem, and from the Doctors of both laws in the same places, and from D. Thom. quaest. 78. art. 2. ad 5. and commonly from other Theologians with Valentia disput. 5. quaest. 24. puncto 1.
HUNC contractum esse licitum patet ex Cod. et ff. pro socio, et cap. per vestras extra de donat. inter virum, et uxorem, et Doctoribus utriusque iuris iisdem locis, et a D. Thom. quaest. 78. art. 2. ad 5. et communiter ab aliis Theologis apud Valentiam disput. 5. quaest. 24. puncto 1.
IT IS PROVED by D. Bonavent. in the Bibliis pauperum, cap. 119. because holy Jacob had a contract of Society with Laban, and was enriched, Genes. 30.
PROBATUR a D. Bonavent. in Bibliis pauperum, cap. 119. quia Iacob sanctus Societatis contractum habuit cum Laban, et ditatus est, Genes. 30.
IT IS PROVED secondly by D. Bonavent. ad cap. 4. Ecclesiastae, where he weighs those words: Melius est duos esse simul: habent enim emolumentum Societatis mutuae; The holy Doctor says moreover that this Society is conformable to the virtue of CHARITY, since the avaricious man hates Society in its gains, that he alone may profit.
PROBATUR secundo a D. Bonavent. ad cap. 4. Ecclesiastae, ubi ea verba ponderat : Melius est duos esse simul : habent enim emolumentum Societatis mutuae; Ait autem S. Doctor, hanc Societatem esse virtuti conformem Charitatis, cum avarus Societatem in emolumentis odio habeat, ut solus lucretur.
HENCE I argue by reason: that which is licit to do alone, much more is it licit to communicate a good with one's neighbor; but it is licit for one alone to exercise contracts: Therefore.
HINC arguo ratione : id, quod licet facere solum, multo magis licet communicando cum proximo bonum; sed licet soli exercere contractus : Ergo.
¶ BUT that this contract be licit, three conditions are to be observed.
¶ UT autem hic contractus licitus sit, tres sunt observandae conditiones.
THE FIRST is required on the part of the trading, that it be just.
PRIMA requiritur ex parte negotiationis, ut sit iusta.
THE SECOND on the part of the gain to be divided, that it be justly divided among the Partners: as, if each contribute an equal amount, let it be divided equally; if unequal, let it be divided according to that inequality; and if that be doubtful, let it be defined by the judgment of a prudent man.
SECUNDA ex parte lucri dividendi, ut iuste inter Socios dividatur, ut si singuli ponant aequale; aequaliter dividatur; si inaequale, dividatur iuxta illam inaequalitatem, quae si sit dubia, definiatur iudicio prudentis.
THE THIRD is, that the loss also be divided by the same reason. So commonly, with Valentia quaest. 24. puncto 1. Toletum lib. 5. cap. 41. Tannerum disput. 4. quaest. 7. dubio 8.
TERTIA est, ut etiam damnum eadem ratione dividatur. Ita communiter apud Valentiam quaest. 24. puncto 1. Toletum lib. 5. cap. 41. Tannerum disput. 4. quaest. 7. dubio 8.