John Duns Scotus: A Treatise on Potency and Act, Book Ix: Questions on the Metaphysics of Aristotle Book IX (English, Latin and Latin Edition)

The most extensive treatment John Duns Scotus gave of the Aristotelian doctrine of potentiality and actuality is found in Book IX of his Questions on the Metaphysics of Aristotle. The relatively finished character of this last book is in sharp contrast to the incomplete character of the earlier eight books, giving it almost the aspect of an ordination or final revision that could be published as a separate work like his proof for the existence and nature of God, the De primo principio. For that treason the author thought it merited a title of its own and would be worth republishing with an English translation and a commentary for classroom use. The Latin and English text for this edition is found respectively in the critical edition of Scotus's Opera philosophica, volume four; and the second volume of Questions on the Metaphysics of Aristotle by John Duns Scotus edited by Girard Etzkorn and Allan Wolter - both published by Franciscan Institute Publications. The author has inserted the original pagination in brackets with bold print so that this volume can be used for research purposes as well as for a graduate course or seminar textbook, though he made some slight changes in the headings and the arrangement and choice of footnotes. He is grateful to F. Edward Coughlin, OFM, for correlating the Latin and English text and preparing the volume for printing. He is also extremely grateful to Margaret Carney, OSF, STD, Director of the Franciscan Institute for expediting its publication.