Duns ScotusOxford University Press, 1999 M06 17 - 272 pages This is an accessible introduction to the life and thought of John Duns Scotus (c. 1266--1308), the scholastic philosopher and theologian who came to be called the Subtle Doctor. A native of Scotland (as his name implies), Scotus became a Franciscan and taught in Oxford, Paris, and Cologne. In his writings he put Aristotelian thought to the service of Christian theology and was the founder of a school of scholasticism called Scotism, which was often opposed to the Thomism of the followers of Thomas Aquinas. In particular, Scotus is well known for his defense of contra-causal free will and logical possibility and for his account of individuation in terms of "haecceity" or "thisness." Cross offers a clear introductory account of the most significant aspects of Scotus's theological thought. Theology is here construed broadly to include Scotus's philosophical investigation of God's existence and attributes. In addition to providing a clear, though not always uncritical, outline of Scotus's positions, Cross aims to show how Scotus's theories fit into modern debates, particularly contemporary debates in philosophical theology, and to point out Scotus's historical significance in the development of theology. |
Contents
1 Duns Scotus Philosophy and Theology | 3 |
Existence Unicity and Simplicity | 15 |
Perfection Infinity and Religious Language | 31 |
Knowledge and Agency | 47 |
5 God the Trinity | 61 |
Body Soul and Immortality | 73 |
Freedom Ethics and Sin | 83 |
Predestination Merit and Grace | 101 |
Predestination and Merit | 127 |
11 Sacraments | 135 |
Appendix | 147 |
Notes | 153 |
215 | |
226 | |
240 | |
God and Man | 113 |
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Common terms and phrases
accept According according to Scotus actions activity actual agent allow Aquinas Aquinas's argument attributes basic believes body bring causal powers cause chapter Christ's Christ's human claim clear clearly command concept contingent course created creatures dependence discussion distinction divine divine essence divine persons doctrine Duns Scotus effect entails Equally essential example existence fact follows formal freedom give given God's God’s grace holds human nature idea identical individual infinite infinity intellect justice knowledge Lect logically matter means medieval merely merit meritorious Metaphysics moral necessary notes object offers original perfection person Philosophy position possible present Press principle produced question Quod reason relation reward Scotus's Scotus's account seems sense sort soul Studies substance sufficient theology theory things tion true understanding University univocal Vatican virtue Wadding