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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §12.1.6.pr

Certainty of the Obligation and Methods of Designation

Passage 1861 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

The definition of what is "certain" (certum) in an obligation is provided, and it is explained, citing Pedius, that the method of identifying or pointing out a thing is indifferent as long as the methods serve the same purpose.

[PAULUS libro uicensimo octauo ad edictum. ] §12.1.6.prCertum est, cuius species uel quantitas, quae in obligatione uersatur, aut nomine suo aut ea demonstratione quae nominis uice fungitur qualis quantaque sit ostenditur.
[PAULUS, On the Edict, book 28] An object is certain when its species or quantity, which is involved in the obligation, is shown to be of what kind and of what amount it is, either by its own name or by that demonstration which performs the function of a name.
nam et Pedius libro primo de stipulationibus nihil referre ait, proprio nomine res appelletur an digito ostendatur an uocabulis quibusdam demonstretur: quatenus mutua uice fungantur, quae tantundem praestent.
For Pedius also says in the first book On Stipulations that it makes no difference whether a thing is called by its proper name, or pointed out with a finger, or described by certain words; insofar as those things which achieve the same effect perform a mutual function.

Notes

  1. §12.1.6.prCertum est, cuius species uel quantitas — The antecedent (such as id) of the relative pronoun cuius is omitted; the entire relative clause functions as the subject or definition of the neuter singular adjective in the main clause, Certum est ("It is certain whose...").
  2. §12.1.6.prquatenus mutua uice fungantur, quae tantundem praestent — The conjunction quatenus ("insofar as") introduces a restrictive clause with the subjunctive fungantur. The relative clause introduced by quae also uses the subjunctive praestent to express a characteristic limitation ("such things as achieve the same effect").

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §12.1.6.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:12.1.6.pr

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