Introduction
John Duns Scotus, a medieval philosopher and theologian, made significant contributions to metaphysics and theology. His conception of God reflects both scholastic rigor and a distinct philosophical approach. Scotus’s theology attempts to reconcile reason with faith and gives a nuanced account of God’s nature and attributes.
God as Infinite Being
For Scotus, God is the most perfect being, possessing infinite perfection. Unlike Thomas Aquinas who emphasized God’s essence as pure act (actus purus), Scotus emphasized God’s infinity and the univocity of being. According to him, being applies to both God and creatures in a univocal way, although God’s being is infinite and uncaused.
Univocity of Being
Scotus challenged the analogical view of being held by Aquinas. He proposed the univocity of being, meaning that the term “being” is used in the same sense for God and creatures. This allows philosophical discourse about God to be meaningful and not merely symbolic.
Haecceity and Individuality
Scotus introduced the concept of haecceity or “thisness,” which refers to what makes an individual unique. While this is more prominent in his metaphysical thought, it also underscores his view of God as an individual being with specific characteristics, not a vague abstraction.
God’s Freedom
Unlike deterministic views, Scotus emphasized the freedom of God in creation. God freely chooses to create the world and its order. This makes divine will as important as divine intellect in Scotus’s theology. God’s decisions are not dictated by necessity but by a free and rational will.
Conclusion
Don Scotus’s conception of God highlights the philosopher’s emphasis on precision, freedom, and individuality. His contributions laid groundwork for later philosophical discussions and offered an alternative to the dominant Thomistic interpretations of divine nature in the medieval period.