Apprehending the divinity: the possibility of Revealed Theology in the prologue of Duns Scotus’ Ordinatio
Keywords:
Duns Scotus. Gnosiology. Supernaturalis. Revelation.Abstract
The possibility of knowing the divine nature has been an issue in Western philosophical thought since classical antiquity. In fact, an instantiation of this can be observed when Duns Scotus, in the solution to the first part of the prologue to his Ordinatio, sets out to analyze in what sense theology can be considered a supernatural knowledge. In doing so, the Subtle Doctor not only makes an interesting semantic distinction but also presents a certain gnoseological perspective that justifies the possibility of a revealed theology. With this in mind, this article sets out to explain Scotus' distinction between the two ways of predicating “supernaturalis” of some knowledge. It will be observed how Scotus, in siding with the theologians in the epistemological controversy with the philosophers, concludes that the grace of revelation enables the pilgrim to transcend the natural limits of his knowledge.
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