Contingency and Freedom: Lectura I 39: 42 (The New Synthese Historical Library, 42) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0792327071 ISBN 13: 9780792327073

Publisher: Springer, 1994

Synopsis

During the seventies, there was a revival of systematic philosophy in general and of ontology in particular. At the same time, especially in Anglo-Saxon thinking, systematic philosophy interacted very creatively with the history of medieval philosophy. It seems to us that the work of John Duns Scotus (1266-1308) could substantially benefit these develop­ ments. Not only this, but his works cries out to be developed across the whole spectrum of theology -that science which, in the Middle Ages, ruled all others ('regina scientiarum'). This book is the outcome of several years of scholarship and friend­ ship during which, guided by Dr. A. Vos, we have studied the work of Scotus. Our research group is connected to the Theological Faculty of Utrecht and to the Dutch Franciscan Study Centre (Stichting Francis­ caans Studiecentrum). This study presents a translation and commentary of Lectura I 39, which, in our view, is noteable as one of the key texts in the history of systematic theology and philosophy. In this book we have used specialist language and argumentation, but at the same time have taken pains to make it useful to a circle of in­ terested readers wider than simply that of those well-versed in medieval scholasticism. In this way, we hope to present the difficult but instruc­ tive work of the 'subtle master' ('doctor subtilis') in such a way as to make it attractive to other scholars and students in theology and philoso­ phy.

About this title

Synopsis

This study provides an English translation of "Lectura" I 39, a key text of the medieval theologian and philosopher John Duns Scotus (1266-1308), together with an introduction and a commentary. In the history of thought, Scotus is the first scholar to develop a consistent analysis of the basic Christian notions of "contingency" and "freedom". This analysis can be found in his important early work, "Lectura" I 39, in which the question of whether God has knowledge of future contingents is discussed. Reality is contingent, which means that reality in its factual shape could have been otherwise; God does not rule by determinism nor is He ruled by it - nor is man, neither is their relationship. This fundamental insight made Christian thought turn away from the ancient conception that everything is (at bottom) necessary. This text is suitable for graduate students, philosophers and theologians.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0792327071
• ISBN 13: 9780792327073
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 215
• Editor: Vos Jaczn. Anthonie, Veldhuis Henri, Looman-Graaskamp Aline H., Dekker E., Den Bok Nico W.