Musings upon (or at least adjacent to) the Feast of John Duns Scotus

One of my better covers

Blessed John Duns Scotus, OFM, died (according to tradition) on 8 November 1308, so today is his feast day, for anyone inclined to celebrate.

I actually started writing about Scotus entirely because someone else suggested the idea to me. That's not a particularly respectable reason to start working on a historical figure (my reason for working on Anselm is even less respectable; I'll get to that at some point), but the interest quickly became quite sincere, and Scotus has taken over my life and then relinquished it in waves ever since.

I currently owe OUP the definitive (ha!) book on Scotus's ethics.

Yeah, well, I owe lots of people lots of things.

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I spent last weekend at home in Tampa. It was not a successful visit, since I spent the whole time suffering, and then recovering, from a stomach bug. I did lose 3.5 pounds over the weekend, but not, I suspect, in the way my trainer was encouraging.

Our dog, Tess, is not particularly cuddly. She likes to be near us, but not necessarily right up against us. But she's a sensitive girl, and when I curled up on the sofa in the loft, obviously miserable, she snuggled up to me, clearly concerned.

I sobbed.

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"I've been working hard preparing for the National Collegiate Single-Handed Sailing Championship, and I could really use an extension on the paper, if that's possibe." This from a guy who carries himself with the ultimate yeah-bro-whatever demeanor: slouched (paradoxically, it takes a lot of effort for someone that tall to slouch effectively), never taking notes, apparently disengaged. But when required to speak in class, he absolutely went for the jugular in his argument against Berkeley's response to the problem of evil.

Some day I'll learn not to judge a book by its cover.

Of course he got the extension. He also finished in the top 10.

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So how am I celebrating Scotus's day back here in DC?

First, I have an appointment with my trainer at 10:00. Despite the fact that he represents an ideal that is both intimidating and unattainable, he somehow makes me feel better about myself.

Then at 12:30 I have class. We're starting Mill's On Liberty. I find Mill's prose a total slog after Berkeley, but there's no denying that the philosophy is lively and of obvious current importance.

From 2:00 to 4:00 I have office hours. My students have a paper due, officially, at midnight, so office hours will be well-attended.

And at 6:30 I have dinner with one of my oldest and dearest friends in the profession.

No. One of my oldest and dearest friends, period.