Synopses & Reviews
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.
Review
"Perhaps the most impressive feature of the volume is the extent to which it succeeds, in such a narrow compass, at giving us a sense of the depth an range of Scotus's theological reflections. The volume contains surprisingly rich treatments of the topics it covers, and adopts the pedagogically useful strategy of introducing and clarifying Scotus's views by contrasting them with the better-known views of his predecessor, Thomas Aquinas."--Philosophia Christi
"A broad, accessible introduction to the thought of John Duns Scotus that is both useful for the beginner and engaging to the specialist. . . . Cross succeeds in showing that Duns Scotus was a great thinker engaged in a wide variety of interesting ideas at a very high level of rational inquiry. The book will also prove useful for the broad context that it provides for the standard excerpts and typical references that constitute the usual brush with Scotus in university studies. Finally, even the specialist will appreciate the invitation to review in a short compass the variety of influential Scotistic doctrines that this short book manages to encircle."--Journal of Religion
Review
"A broad, accessible introduction to the thought of John Duns Scotus that is both useful for the beginner and engaging to the specialist. . . . Cross succeeds in showing that Duns Scotus was a great thinker engaged in a wide variety of interesting ideas at a very high level of rational inquiry. The book will also prove useful for the broad context that it provides for the standard excerpts and typical references that constitute the usual brush with Scotus in university studies. Finally, even the specialist will appreciate the invitation to review in a short compass the variety of influential Scotistic doctrines that this short book manages to encircle."--
Journal of ReligionSynopsis
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.
Synopsis
The nature and content of the thought of Duns Scotus (c. 1266-1308) remains largely unknown except by the expert. This book provides an accessible account of Scotus' theology, focusing both on what is distinctive in his thought, and on issues where his insights might prove to be of perennial value.
Table of Contents
1. Duns Scotus, philosophy, and theology
2. God: existence, unicity, and simplicity
3. God: perfection, infinity, and religious language
4. God: knowledge and agency
5. God the Trinity
6. Humanity: body, soul, and immortality
7. Humanity: freedom, ethics, and sin
8. Humanity: predestination, merit, and grace
9. Jesus: God and man
10. Jesus: predestination and merit
11. Sacraments
Additional notes
Bibliography
Index locorum
General index