The article examines the presence of references to Augustine in John Duns Scotus’ Controversy inter Philosophos et Theologos, contained in the first part of the Prologue of the Lectura and Ordinatio. Defining Scotus’s thought as a form of Augustinianism was common during the first half of the 20th century. In more recent times, some scholars have returned to the issue of Augustine’s influence on Scotus’s thought, finding a rich presence of Augustinian references in the text of the Controversy. Therefore, the article reconstructs the salient elements of such a text, pointing out how Scotus intends to emphasize the centrality of freedom as a constitutive character of the relationship between God and human beings. Consistent with human freedom, natural reason remains indeterminate with respect to the crucial questions of human life and man’s relationship with God. The author argues that Scotus refers to Augustine only in an instrumental way for supporting of his own doctrine. However, this does not make Augustine’s influence irrelevant: the attitude Scotus adopts developing the Controversy appears to be very inspired by what Augustine expressed in the Confessions, when he addressed God saying: “Tu eras interior intimo meo, superior summo meo” (Conf., III, 6, 11).
L’articolo prende in esame la presenza dei riferimenti ad Agostino nella Controversia inter Philosophos et Theologos di Giovanni Duns Scoto. Definire il pensiero di Scoto come una forma di agostinismo era frequente all’inizio del XX secolo; in tempi più recenti, alcuni studiosi sono tornati a mettere a tema l’influenza di Agostino sul pensiero di Scoto, riscontrando una ricca presenza di riferimenti agostiniani nel testo della prima parte del Prologo della Lectura e dell’Ordinatio. L’articolo ricostruisce quindi gli elementi salienti di tale testo, rimarcando come Scoto intenda sottolineare la centralità della libertà, quale carattere costitutivo dell’incontro tra Dio e l’uomo. In coerenza con la libertà umana, la ragione naturale resta indeterminata rispetto alle questioni cruciali della vita umana e della relazione dell’uomo con Dio. L’autore sostiene quindi che Scoto richiami Agostino in modo solo strumentale, come supporto per la sua propria dottrina. Ciò non rende però irrilevante l’influenza di Agostino: l’atteggiamento che Scoto adotta nel corso della controversia appare ben ispirato da quanto Agostino esprimeva nelle Confessioni, quando si rivolgeva a Dio dicendo: «Tu eras interior intimo meo, superior summo meo» (Conf., III, 6, 11).
Petagine, A. (2023). «Tu eras interior intimo meo, superior summo meo» (Conf., III, 6, 11). A proposito della presenza di Agostino nella Controversia inter Philosophos et Theologos di Giovanni Duns Scoto. MEDIOEVO: RIVISTA DI STORIA DELLA FILOSOFIA MEDIEVALE, 48, 129-153.
«Tu eras interior intimo meo, superior summo meo» (Conf., III, 6, 11). A proposito della presenza di Agostino nella Controversia inter Philosophos et Theologos di Giovanni Duns Scoto
Antonio Petagine
2023-01-01
Abstract
The article examines the presence of references to Augustine in John Duns Scotus’ Controversy inter Philosophos et Theologos, contained in the first part of the Prologue of the Lectura and Ordinatio. Defining Scotus’s thought as a form of Augustinianism was common during the first half of the 20th century. In more recent times, some scholars have returned to the issue of Augustine’s influence on Scotus’s thought, finding a rich presence of Augustinian references in the text of the Controversy. Therefore, the article reconstructs the salient elements of such a text, pointing out how Scotus intends to emphasize the centrality of freedom as a constitutive character of the relationship between God and human beings. Consistent with human freedom, natural reason remains indeterminate with respect to the crucial questions of human life and man’s relationship with God. The author argues that Scotus refers to Augustine only in an instrumental way for supporting of his own doctrine. However, this does not make Augustine’s influence irrelevant: the attitude Scotus adopts developing the Controversy appears to be very inspired by what Augustine expressed in the Confessions, when he addressed God saying: “Tu eras interior intimo meo, superior summo meo” (Conf., III, 6, 11).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.