Scotus sobre o estatuto ontológico do tempo

Abstract

Abstract:

In this study I assess contemporary interpretations of Duns Scotus’s concept of time and account of its ontological status – particularly in works by Richard Cross and by Neil Lewis.
What brings difficulties to researchers is the issue of the coherence of Scotus’s account, which seems to oscilate between a form of presentism and a static conception of “our” time. This appears especially when Scotus discusses the nature of time together with the notion of eternity or atemporality.

In this sense, the interpretation of passages within Scotus’s questions on contingency and God’s knowledge of future contingents – God’s knowledge of all things according to all conditions of temporal existence – has become of central importance. I analyze, therefore, carefully Lectura I d. 39 q. 1- 5,

Ordinatio I d. 38 q. 2 and d. 39 q. 1-5, and also Reportatio examinata I d. 38 q. 1-2. After discussing contemporary interpretations and revising the sources just mentioned, I propose solutions for the general coherence of Scotus’s conception of the reality of time.

Keywords: Time, reality of time, continuum, presentism, eternity.

Ancient and Medieval studied authors: Aristotle (Aristoteles), Thomas Aquinas (Thomas de Aquino) and John Duns Scotus (Ioannes Duns Scotus).