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Duns Scotus

Disciplines:
philosophy
theology
switzerland/scotland
philosophy/scholasticism

Summary

Scottish Franciscan friar known as the Subtle Doctor — who developed a complex metaphysical system including the doctrines of haecceity (thisness — what makes an individual particular) and univocity of being — and whose voluntarism (God acts by will rather than reason) influenced both Ockham and the later Protestant stress on divine will.

Core Contribution

Developed haecceity (the principle of individuation) and univocity of being — Scotus's insistence that being is said in the same way of God and creatures (against Thomistic analogy) had profound consequences for natural theology, and his voluntarism (God's will is primary, not reason) influenced Ockham's critique and ultimately the Reformation's stress on divine sovereignty.

Notable Works & Achievements

Ordinatio

Quodlibetal Questions

Historical Influences

Aquinas Aristotle Anselm

Intellectual Lineage

Duns ScotlandOxford and ParisCologne

Contemporaries & Peers

Aquinas Ockham

Minds Influenced

Ockham Reformation theology History 102

Intellectual Posterity

HaecceityUnivocity of beingSubtle DoctorScotism

Discussing

Duns Scotus

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