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 ...
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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 Contents Preface to This Edition Preface to the Original Edition Introduction 1. General Remarks 2. Notes on the Specific Selections Part I. The will and Intellect 1. Practical science 2. The will as a rational faculty 3. How the will controls thought 4. Coercion and free will Part II. The will and its inclinations 5. The will and its inclinations 6. Natural will and natural volition 7. Happiness 8. Synderesis and conscience Part III. Moral goodness 9. The nature of moral goodness 10. The source of moral goodness 11. Degrees of moral goodness and badness 12. Does the end alone justify actions? 13. Morally indifferent acts 14. Is moral goodness conformity to God's will? Part IV. God and the moral law 15. God's justice 16. God's absolute and ordained power Part V. The moral law in general 17. Natural law and divine positive law 18. The decalogue and the law of nature 19. On marriage and bigamy 20. Divorce and the Mosaic law 21. Positive law and civil authority Part VI. The intellectual and moral virtures 22. The will as the seat of the moral virtues 23. Moral virtue and the gifts and fruits of the Spirit 24. Are the moral virtues connected? Part VII. The love of God, self, and neighbor 25. The infused virtue of charity 26. Love of God and neighbor 27. Love of God and self Part VIII. Sin 28. Is the power to sin from God? 29. The sin of Lucifer 30. The sin of malice 31. Lying 32. Perjury 33. The obligation to keep secrets 34. The sin of enslavement Texts in Translation Part I. The Will and Intellect Part II. The Will and Its Inclinations Part III. Moral Goodness Part IV. God and the Moral Law Part V. The Moral Law in General Part VI. The Intellectual and Moral Virtues Part VII. The Love of God, Self, and Neighbor
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