The Wisdom of John Duns Scotus: Individuality, Freedom, and the Univocity of Being (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798197333780)

The Wisdom of John Duns Scotus: Individuality, Freedom, and the Univocity of Being offers a comprehensive and accessible introduction to one of the most original philosophers of the Middle Ages. Known as the Subtle Doctor for the precision and depth of his arguments, John Duns Scotus (c. 1266-1308) developed a philosophical system that placed the individual, the contingent, and the free at the center of reality, challenging the dominant intellectual currents of his age and anticipating debates that continue to shape philosophy today.

Writing in the tradition of contemplative intellectual history, this volume traces the full arc of Scotus's thought across metaphysics, epistemology, natural theology, ethics, and Christology. From his revolutionary doctrine of the univocity of being to his defense of the Immaculate Conception, from his theory of haecceity to his account of the will as a self-determining power, each chapter illuminates a distinct dimension of a remarkably unified vision.

Readers will discover:

• How Scotus's concept of haecceity, or thisness, elevated the individual to a new metaphysical dignity
• Why his doctrine of the univocity of being remains one of the most debated theses in the history of philosophy
• How the formal distinction provided a new tool for understanding complexity within unity
• Why Scotus believed freedom, not necessity, is the fundamental mode of divine and human action
• How his moral philosophy anticipated the modern separation of duty from self-interest

The Wisdom of John Duns Scotus: Individuality, Freedom, and the Univocity of Being is written for educated general readers who seek a serious engagement with one of the great philosophical minds of the Western tradition. No prior knowledge of medieval philosophy is required. The prose is grounded in historical scholarship, free of jargon, and shaped by the conviction that Scotus's ideas remain as provocative and as relevant as they were seven centuries ago.