First Principle (Philosopher's Palate)

First Principle Among living things, what has understanding is better than what lacks intelligence. Duns Scotus First Principle; 4:21 From this the very outset, Duns Scotus present us with a dichotomy; displaying before us, our true inability coupled with a truism. In this particular work, this approach and response is the hallmark of his works. Scotus present his theology/ philosophical treaties his ideas of formal distinction and rational distinctions. That is to say, the distinct form exists midway between the distinct rationality. The first is conducted by the definition of what is in reality, and second, what is conducted within the intellect. This work shows that he has been deeply impacted from his translation of the Pseudo Dionysian Corpus. Scotus s works have been over sprayed with Dionysius s influence. This work displays as few others his perception of God and the world in, which we exist. Much like Dionysius, he bridges the gap between the early Greek philosophers and the emerging scholastic philosophy. To further appreciate this concept, Dionysius was quite heavily founded upon Plato where as Scholasticism leaned upon Plato s disciple Aristotle. The classic pictorial of Plato and Aristotle, Plato has hi left index finger pointing upwards towards heaven, while Aristotle has his right palm facing downwards, is a bit extreme. Let me present a synopsis: Thus far Scotus is simply repeating Aristotelian orthodoxy, indeed none of his contemporaries or immediate predecessors would have found any of this at all strange. However, Scotus expounds on his views concerning form and matter. Duns Scotus proposes three important issues, which that sets himself apart from some other philosophers of his day. These are 1) He holds that there exists matter that has no form whatsoever. 2) Not all created substances are composites of form and matter. 3) One and the same substance can have more than one substantial form. This work is a must work for any serious philisophical buff, avid student of theological or any individual who has a real need to know.