The Philosophical Vision of John Duns Scotus: An Introduction

In this much-anticipated work, distinguished authors Mary Beth Ingham and Mechthild Dreyer present an accessible introduction to the philosophy of the thirteenth century Franciscan John Duns Scotus. Based on their expert knowledge of Scotus, this text brings together key insights of Scotus’s theory of cognition, metaphysics, and ethics in a comprehensive and unified manner. The authors use critical texts and the most recent scholarship on Scotus to introduce the intricate vision of the Subtle Doctor to a wide audience. This volume offers a point of entry into the world of medieval philosophy and its connection to questions belonging to natural theology: the existence of God, divine freedom, and perfection. It presents important historical information on Scotus himself, but additionally on the philosophical context in which he taught. The authors explicate his thought in light of the dominant questions of the late thirteenth century. The integrative and comprehensive presentation of the essential elements of Scotus’s philosophical vision makes this book an excellent resource. Basic concepts are explained for the non-specialist, while helpful discussions of Scotus’s conceptions will be useful for those already familiar with his work.