Understanding John Duns Scotus

Of realty the rarest-veined unraveller

In this ninth volume of the Franciscan Heritage Series, Mary Beth Ingham introduces readers to the Franciscan vision and values of Blessed John Duns Scotus (1266-1308). Framed within the context of Franciscan spiritual values, chapters focus on creation and the dignity of each individual being, on cognition and the powers of human knowing, on the proof for God's existence, on the nature of Theology, on the central role of freedom for conversion and the love of friendship, on moral goodness and beauty, on practical decision making, and on salvation history. In order to highlight the particularly Franciscan approach to these topics, each chapter offers helpful points of comparison and contrast with the thought of Thomas Aquinas. Throughout, the poetry of Scotist-inspired Gerard Manley Hopkins sets the artistic backdrop for a vision of reality informed by Franciscan values and Franciscan optimism. Hopkins praised the hope and intricacy of Scotist thought, naming him 'of realty the rarest-veined unraveller'.