Duns Scotus on the Will and Morality

Since the original publication of Duns Scotus on the Will and Morality in 1986, there has been a remarkable growth of interest in the thought of this early fourteenth-century Franciscan master. Allan B. Wolter's critically acclaimed book inspired much of the inquiry, and today it remains the standard source on Scotus' moral philosophy. This new edition of the book retains the introduction and English translations of the original thirty-four selections of texts from Scotus' writings on the will and morality. In addition to a substantially expanded bibliography, the volume includes a preface written by William A. Frank."With admirable perseverance . . . the author has prepared the translation of a broad selection of Scotus passages, which in carefully ordered succession present a fairly full humanistic and Christian moral doctrine. The precise aim of the work is not completeness or a simple survey of ethics but a demonstration of the rational unity and consistency of Scotus' moral philosophy and its accessibility to human reason. For a generation of students whose command of Latin is limited this will be a valuable instrument for access both to a standard line of medieval thought and to an impressively unified Christian ethics. . . . A splendid book."-Manuscripta, on the first edition ABOUT THE TRANSLATORS: Allan B. Wolter, O.F.M., is professor emeritus of philosophy at The Catholic University of America and distinguished research professor at the Franciscan Institute in St. Bonaventure, New York. He is the author of numerous works on medieval philosophy. William A. Frank is professor of philosophy at the University of Dallas.Table of ContentsPreface to This EditionPreface to the Original EditionIntroduction1. General Remarks2. Notes on the Specific SelectionsPart I. The will and Intellect1. Practical science2. The will as a rational faculty3. How the will controls thought4. Coercion and free willPart II. The will and its inclinations5. The will and its inclinations6. Natural will and natural volition7. Happiness8. Synderesis and consciencePart III. Moral goodness9. The nature of moral goodness10. The source of moral goodness11. Degrees of moral goodness and badness12. Does the end alone justify actions?13. Morally indifferent acts14. Is moral goodness conformity to God's will?Part IV. God and the moral law15. God's justice16. God's absolute and ordained powerPart V. The moral law in general17. Natural law and divine positive law18. The decalogue and the law of nature19. On marriage and bigamy20. Divorce and the Mosaic law21. Positive law and civil authorityPart VI. The intellectual and moral virtures22. The will as the seat of the moral virtues23. Moral virtue and the gifts and fruits of the Spirit24. Are the moral virtues connected?Part VII. The love of God, self, and neighbor25. The infused virtue of charity26. Love of God and neighbor27. Love of God and selfPart VIII. Sin28. Is the power to sin from God?29. The sin of Lucifer30. The sin of malice31. Lying32. Perjury33. The obligation to keep secrets34. The sin of enslavementTexts in TranslationPart I. The Will and IntellectPart II. The Will and Its InclinationsPart III. Moral GoodnessPart IV. God and the Moral LawPart V. The Moral Law in GeneralPart VI. The Intellectual and Moral VirtuesPart VII. The Love of God, Self, and Neighbor Read more