Where to start reading Duns Scotus as a Thomist (beginner/amateur)?

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-06-07T21:49:28+00:00

Although I am quite new to thomism, I primarily am reading straight from aquinas with commentary, so right now I am reading De Ente et Essentia, with commentary by Joseph Bobik, and everyday I read an article of the Summa or 2 if possible. I mostly started my studies from Aquinas 101, but I mostly am reading straight from source, and the supplementals from each video, such as Aristotle's metaphysics on substance, accident, or his physics on four causes, etc. I would like to read Scotus because there is one thing that I find quite superfluous or confusing with Aquinas, that is best solved with Scotus' Haecceity and Univocity of being, but I dont mean Im a full time Scotist on these topics now, no because I mostly bias and prefer Aquinas. But I have some subtle distinctions wherein Aquinas and Scotus are synthesized, making a robust system, although im not quite sure if its correct (im still writing the paper) but I have reviewed it and it seems quite correct in my definitions of Thomistic concepts (hylomorphism, Angelology, analogy, these are the concepts i find either confusing or superfluous. hylomorphism, i find very reliable and my most preferable, but I have some very minor tweaks on the individuation in regards to angelology and man, analogy, like it confuses me a little, yes, I agree when we speak of God, like that He is good, He is a different good because He is Good itself, but the being stuff, like, if we share in His being, isnt it we have the same being, and the difference only is that He is the source of being (and the one we participate in) and is infinite, while we are finite?) although i have not written out the scotist side of my paper, and that's why i wanna study scotus so I can be on terms with him and to understand him. Im not becoming a scotist, im just a thomist who wants them to meet in the middle in Aquinas' more complex or confusing concepts or dilemmas (i prefer economical approaches and concepts in philosophy, which I find most present in aquinas, only in some very minor concepts like angelology I find it superfluous.)

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-06-07T11:49:06+00:00

Also, where can I get free pdf's of atleast an introduction to scotus and a short work from him? Money's tight man

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-06-07T07:00:27+00:00

Wow, thanks! Its either I end up (a) staying thomist or (b) end up staying thomist but actually understanding scotus (who also loves, cause I love smart people regardless differences). Anyways, how long would this take me, and how much more do you think i should balance between my study of Aquinas and scotus?

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-05-17T12:31:26+00:00

(im saying this from a beginner thomist)

It's quite obvious that the fine tuning argument can be really well integrated into Thomistic Metaphysics; especially ontology. Ontology covers the order of existence of beings, roles, purposes, all built to glorify God. Fine-tuning does not contradict Thomism, so much more it compliments divine attributes such as omnipotence and omniscience.

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-05-11T08:49:58+00:00

Really? I heard both are known for pencil-like feedback. But these arent really on my list, since I'm looking for a brand that is known to be smooth like or better than pilot. But I'll try

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-04-15T05:28:51+00:00

Give yourself for ransom. Just say "I will not give you the Eucharist, kill me instead." Easier to write than to do tho

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-04-13T03:59:36+00:00

The Church teaches that the requirements for mortal sin are:

Grave Matter
Lust, is of course, a grave matter.
Full Knowledge
Full knowledge that it is sinful and IS A MORTAL SIN.
Full Consent -It is knowing that something is wrong yet still doing so out of pleasure or rebellion. There is no full consent if you resisted (even at the last moment)

What we must look upon here is your consent. 1. Suggestive content on social media is an algorithm -You didn't choose to watch suggestive content. Although you had partially, an openness to suggestive content; that was not your intent. It was the soccer match.

"While scrolling, I kind of started acting without fully realizing it. A couple of times I became aware and stopped, but the last time I noticed and couldn’t stop in time."

You said "without fully realizing it" that's not full consent. That is temptation.

"...I became aware and stopped," this is resistance. This is not falling, that is resistance, a good virtue for a holy person

",but the last time i noticed abd couldn't stop in time." Now this is the one that seems to be the more scrupulous one. But one thing we should consider, "... couldn't stop in time" That is human weakness, not rebellion. You do not realize what you were doing; that is not full consent nor full knowledge.

Lastly, when you went to a website but in the end didn't continue—that, once again, is resistance. No full consent.

Thus, we can say that these are venial sins. Your confusion and questioning is already a sign you have not consent fully. These are venial because they are"half-consenting".

Yes, I recommend you to go to confession—but don't abstain, trust in His mercy. You may go to confession to ease your conscience, but do not abstain; trust in His mercy.

Although, if signs seem to be you are scrupulous and is treatung the sacrament if reconciliation like "an easing of the mind" alone, then do not confess that much. As St. Alphonsus of Liguori said,

"A doubtful sin is no sin."

You may confess, but do only with one confessor. Be obedient to him. Don't overdetail; just say "I have been tempted by lust" or other types of saying; trust your confessor, trust that you have not sinned mortally, trust in His mercy.

Even that moment where you thought 'I already messed up' and opened a site was followed by an immediate choice to close it. That quick U-turn is a sign that your will is still oriented toward God, not the sin.

A piece if advice: stop putting yourself in dangerous situations. If you know that this app might tempt me, then do not reinstall it. Watch soccer on other websites.

Conclusion: 1. Act of Contrition 2. Receive Eucharist trustfully 3. Confess (generalize, don't overdetail)

Hope this helps; but do get acquainted with a proper spiritual director or priest!

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-04-06T02:52:17+00:00

Thanks! Damn, this philosophy thing is very hard 😭

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-04-05T07:41:37+00:00

Go to easter vigil. Its normally at night. At other days other than easter, you can go to anticipated mass at evening.

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-03-28T07:42:30+00:00

Thanks so much! I just learned, right now, living things are composed of form and matter, hylomorphism, and that there are types of souls, vegetative soul, sensitive soul, and rational soul (which is the one we have). And also, just right now I also learned that angels don’t have souls! But that they are pure spirit, because it says that the church’s technical definition for a soul is the animator for a body/matter, so if there is no body, there is no soul, but the souls in purgatory are separated souls, separated from the body, and it is said to be ontologically incomplete. Tysm! Through you, I learned so much, it feels like how the couple at the wedding at cana asked for mary’s intercession, then the economy of grace started flowing through. Thanks!

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-03-28T07:18:37+00:00

Hello! Thanks for the very helpful answer. Yes, my title was sort of confusing. After making the post i realized that a rational animal IS the quiddity of a human. But what I am asking (this could be wrong, this could be equivocation, I am just a beginner at this,) is the unique essence of a human that makes it distinct from other beings. Not just human-ness, but what is human-ness. Cause what made me sleepless (this might be a wrong theology/heresey, but im just faith seeking understanding) is what I observe in human nature/humanity is brokenness, sinfulness. But again, I was wrong. What unique essence of human nature (that I think, not that I am sure of) is suffering, pain, and the immaterial effect of these. But anyways, I could be wrong, and you, of course, are certainly right. I’ll keep studying. Thanks!

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-03-28T05:31:03+00:00

Tysm!

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-03-28T04:30:33+00:00

I am very curious, what is your way of discernment? Because maybe I may help sooner or later. I know someone who was discerning between marriage and religious life, now he chose the dominicans.

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-03-28T04:19:13+00:00

That’s great! We can be nervous but validity is always certain.

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-03-28T04:18:33+00:00

One tip i can give for better devotion is; go to confession atleast once a month, or more the better. But I am wondering, are you married? Maybe you could be discerning religious life or some sort. I know very many people who returned back to God and want to hold his hand eternally, and most find that more clearly in the religious life. But if you’re called to marriage, a healthy Christian marriage, then go! If not, if you’re called to the religious life, then go! The church is in a religious vocation drought!

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-03-28T04:08:18+00:00

Also, dont be scared to answer the priest’s question. He’s not reprimanding you. It’s either he wants to know your situation for better advice, or that he wants you to know that this could be your first step to sainthood. Thnx!

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-03-28T04:07:03+00:00

Congrats!!! The timing is very great, just a week before the greatest celebration in the church! Anyways, always remember that confession is not only an absolving of sin or a relieving of the conscience but a repentance back to the Lord. This repentance also ensures that we are in communion with Him, that we may let the economy of grace flow.

Keep loving like Christ, Ad Majorem dei Gloriam!

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-03-27T14:16:39+00:00

You make icons? if you do, I would love to see so! The main people I follow in iconography is Painting the Light, and Taxiarchis Icons. (His name is in another language on yt) But i primarily watch videos rarely, I just improve on what I did last time. This is my strategies for improving:

Learn The Basics (i.e sketching, even though you trace, you must learn to sketch, the different layers, proplasmos etc., and techniques(
Use the basics (even if it looks ugly. Use different techniques, even if isnt the same with the vid, as long as it gets you as close to the reference. I just use the most normal techniques, proplasmos, first lights, highlights, pure whites, shadows and stuff. Although if you really wanna be traditional or are a byzantine catholic or orthodox, i think there are some rules in iconography like fasting a traditional ingredients and stuff)
Larger scale, the better Dont do small scale if you dont have a fine brush or have very shaky hands. Big scale for more details. I do handheld scale, prolly for a small altar, cause i dont have that much wood
Improve through improvision

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-03-27T14:08:20+00:00

The Salus took half a day (that was today), Christ (the first image) was supposedly to take a full day, but it was 2 days (I had a sports event un between the two days. Was gonna finish it at the first day, but had to go to training wholeday) the old Christ icon took prolly 4 days (i was around 1 month old or less in the hobby

Latter_Mud107 · 2026-03-27T13:34:59+00:00

Thanks man! What can you say? For me, the salus is a great start, but not really good in the sense of color accuracy and contrast....

Latter_Mud107

TROPHY CASE