The nature and content of the thought of Duns Scotus (c.1266-1308) remains largely unknown except by the expert. This book provides an accessible account of Scotus's theology, focusing both on what is distinctive in his thought, and on issues where his insights might prove to be of perennial value.

1.: Duns Scotus, philosophy, and theology 2.: God: existence, unicity, and simplicity 3.: God: perfection, infinity, and religious language 4.: God: knowledge and agency 5.: God the Trinity 6.: Humanity: body, soul, and immortality 7.: Humanity: freedom, ethics, and sin 8.: Humanity: predestination, merit, and grace 9.: Jesus: God and man 10.: Jesus: predestination and merit 11.: Sacraments Additional notes Bibliography Index locorum General index

"Perhaps the most impressive feature of the volume is the extent to which it succeeds, in such a narrow compass, at giving us a sense of the depth an range of Scotus's theological reflections. The volume contains surprisingly rich treatments of the topics it covers, and adopts the pedagogically useful strategy of introducing and clarifying Scotus's views by contrasting them with the better-known views of his predecessor, Thomas Aquinas."--Philosophia Christi "A broad, accessible introduction to the thought of John Duns Scotus that is both useful for the beginner and engaging to the specialist. . . . Cross succeeds in showing that Duns Scotus was a great thinker engaged in a wide variety of interesting ideas at a very high level of rational inquiry. The book will also prove useful for the broad context that it provides for the standard excerpts and typical references that constitute the usual brush with Scotus in university studies. Finally, even the specialist will appreciate the invitation to review in a short compass the variety of influential Scotistic doctrines that this short book manages to encircle."--Journal of Religion "Perhaps the most impressive feature of the volume is the extent to which it succeeds, in such a narrow compass, at giving us a sense of the depth an range of Scotus's theological reflections. The volume contains surprisingly rich treatments of the topics it covers, and adopts the pedagogically useful strategy of introducing and clarifying Scotus's views by contrasting them with the better-known views of his predecessor, Thomas Aquinas."--Philosophia Christi "A broad, accessible introduction to the thought of John Duns Scotus that is both useful for the beginner and engaging to the specialist. . . . Cross succeeds in showing that Duns Scotus was a great thinker engaged in a wide variety of interesting ideas at a very high level of rational inquiry. The book will also prove useful for the broad context that it provides for the standard excerpts and typical references that constitute the usual brush with Scotus in university studies. Finally, even the specialist will appreciate the invitation to review in a short compass the variety of influential Scotistic doctrines that this short book manages to encircle."--Journal of Religion