Duns Scotus and Intuitive Knowledge

Abstract

As mentioned earlier, a commission of theologians “and other wise men” drew up, at the request of the bishop of Paris, Etienne lempier, a list of propositions that could not be held or taught at Paris. Oxford soon followed in handing down similar condemnations. The condemnations focus on propositions of metaphysics, psychology, epistemology, and natural philosophy that seem to arise out of the Latin appropriation of the Islamic, and particularly Averroistic, reception of Aristotle. The condemned propositions concern everything from the agent intellect to the eternity of the world. A good number of the propositions, especially those concerning cosmology and natural philosophy, bring forth condemnation principally because of their limitations on divine power. ‘l’hère aie some such propositions that are taken from the work of Aquinas. One such proposition, which would have deep and long-lasting consequences on medieval philosophy, was “God could not make more than one world.””’’ This proposition goes to the very heart of the relation between existing singular and rational ground.”