Is theology a science? The positions of Duns Scotus and Thomas Aquinas

Abstract

The article tries to answer the question of the status of theology by collating Thomas Aquinas’ with John Duns Scotus’ views. Whereas Thomas Aquinas’ answer to the question: Utrum sacra doctrina sit scientia is unambiguously positive and recognizes “the holy knowledge” as the more honourable than other sciences, Scotus’ answer is negative, at best giving it the status of science sui generis. In the light of Aristotle’s definition, it becomes clear that the two medieval philosophers differed on the question of obviousness and necessity of the subject of theology. An analysis of the first Questio of Summa Theologiae and of the relevant excerpts of Scotus’ writings show that Duns emphasized the “earthly theology”, whereas Thomas by “our theology” understood a mere introduction to the theology of the saved people. Consequently, the differences between Thomas’ and Scotus’ views on theology, thus often accented, appearto be illusory.