Duns Scotus and the necessity of metaphysics

Abstract

Based on a prescriptive sense of necessity, as applied to something whichis a condition for the possibility of reaching a certain goal, initially I analyze theScotist procedure of neutralization of two traditional views on the necessity ofmetaphysics. There is, on the one hand, the neutralization of the philosophi’spretension of having demonstrated the sufficiency of metaphysics for the attainmentof our last end; and, on the other hand, the neutralization of the theologi’sattempt of proving the insufficiency of the metaphysics for the realization of thesame end. Scotus’ own attempt to justify the necessity of metaphysics will be thenreconstructed, an attempt which incorporates vis-à-vis the tradition features of aprofound redefinition of the objectives and procedures of that science.