Exploring the Philosophical Contributions of Duns Scotus: A Study of His Key Concepts

Introduction John Duns Scotus (c. 1266–1308) was a medieval Scottish philosopher and theologian whose work has had a lasting impact on Western thought. Often overshadowed by his contemporaries such as Thomas Aquinas, Scotus’s contributions to philosophy—particularly in metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics—have gained renewed attention in recent decades. This paper aims to explore key concepts put forth by Duns Scotus, particularly his notions of individual essence, the nature of reality, and the role of will in moral action. By examining these concepts, we can better understand Scotus’s unique position within the Scholastic tradition and appreciate his contributions to contemporary philosophical discourse.

Key Concepts of Duns Scotus

1. Individual Essence and the Principle of Individuation One of Scotus’s most significant contributions is his exploration of individual essence and the principle of individuation. Unlike Aquinas, who posited that universals exist in a particular way in the mind of God and in individual substances, Scotus argued that each individual substance has a