EROS AND CHARITY BY DUNS SCOTUS

This essay deals with Duns Scotus's thinking concerning love. This Franciscan theologian makes the accomplished Greek thinking by "inserting" complete by "inserting" in the concept of love Man's complex reality and, therefore, the categories of individuals and freedom. Mankind tries to make himself complete within a natural (Nature) context and, above all, within that of love. Mankind is in itself an eager search for a supreme friendship (with God). Rather than seek for human perfection in his search for God as the personification of Righteousness, he is impelled to be united with God through a true friendship ('Superfriendship'). The "eros" factor unavoidably looks for its own well-being; he benefits from it. Charity depends on freedom; and freedom is not something to be enriched or completed, for it loves Good for what it means itself. Charitable love is expressed in God for He cannot feel the "eros" for anything or anyone. God is in Himself neverending Kindness and the only thing left for Him to do is to rejoice in his own kindness, since He cannot be more perfect than He already is.