Research Article

The Imitation by Not Imitating: Duns Scotus on Self-determined Rationality as Imago Dei in Humans

Number: 9 October 23, 2025
  • Ana Lomadze *
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The Imitation by Not Imitating: Duns Scotus on Self-determined Rationality as Imago Dei in Humans

Abstract

The concept of imitation creates a paradoxical paradigm in Duns Scotus’ philosophy. Following the traditional framework, this medieval thinker considered rational power to be imago Dei, i.e., God’s image in humans. A human’s finite rationality imitates the divine being as an image resembles and imitates the object it depicts. This common medieval assumption—strongly connected with the theological context—is also interesting from an ontological point of view, as it clarifies historical discourse concerning the relation between the principle of beings and beings themselves. Duns Scotus’ theory of imitation merits consideration because it includes not only the necessary causal aspect but also the contingent, free element of the relation. Scotus identifies rational power with free will. This presumption leads the thinker to a provocative theory of imitation. For rational finite beings, the method of imitation is paradoxically “not to imitate.” Unlike all nonrational beings, which imitate by following pre-determined nature, rational beings can imitate by not imitating and being free in their volitional acts.

Keywords

Thanks

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References

  1. Adams, Marilyn M. “Duns Scotus on the Will as Rational Power.” In Via Scoti: Methodologica Ad Mentem Joannis Duns Scoti, edited by Leonardo Sileo, 839–854. Antonianum, 1995.
  2. Alexander of Aphrodisias. “De anima” of Alexander of Aphrodisias: A Translation and Commentary. Edited by Athanasios P. Fotinis. University Press of America, 1980.
  3. Aristotle. De interpretatione: (Peri hermeneias). Edited by Hermann Weidemann. Walter de Gruyter, 2014.
  4. ———. Metaphysica. Edited by Werner Jaeger. Clarendon Press, 1957.
  5. Augustine. De Trinitate, libri XV. Edited by William J. Mountain and Franciscus Glorie. Corpus Christianorum, Series Latina 50–50A. Brepols, 1968.
  6. Baktır, Hasan. “The Concept of Imitation in Plato and Aristotle (Aristo ve Plato’da Taklit).” Erciyes Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi 1, no. 15 (2003): 167-179.
  7. Baleng, Godfrey T. “Mimetic Desire in Augustine’s Confessiones as a Model for Natural Theology and Virtue Ethics.” In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi 58, no. 1 (2024): 1-8. https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v58i1.3030
  8. David, Marian. “The Correspondence Theory of Truth.” In The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford University, 1995. Article published May 10, 2002; last modified December 21, 2025. https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2025/entries/truth- correspondence/

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Literary Theory, Comparative and Transnational Literature, Literary Studies (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Publication Date

October 23, 2025

Submission Date

July 28, 2025

Acceptance Date

September 21, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Number: 9

APA
Lomadze, A. (2025). The Imitation by Not Imitating: Duns Scotus on Self-determined Rationality as Imago Dei in Humans. Nesir: Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi, 9, 47-59. https://doi.org/10.64957/nesir.1797816
AMA
1.Lomadze A. The Imitation by Not Imitating: Duns Scotus on Self-determined Rationality as Imago Dei in Humans. Nesir: Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi. 2025;(9):47-59. doi:10.64957/nesir.1797816
Chicago
Lomadze, Ana. 2025. “The Imitation by Not Imitating: Duns Scotus on Self-Determined Rationality As Imago Dei in Humans”. Nesir: Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi, nos. 9: 47-59. https://doi.org/10.64957/nesir.1797816.
EndNote
Lomadze A (October 1, 2025) The Imitation by Not Imitating: Duns Scotus on Self-determined Rationality as Imago Dei in Humans. Nesir: Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi 9 47–59.
IEEE
[1]A. Lomadze, “The Imitation by Not Imitating: Duns Scotus on Self-determined Rationality as Imago Dei in Humans”, Nesir: Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi, no. 9, pp. 47–59, Oct. 2025, doi: 10.64957/nesir.1797816.
ISNAD
Lomadze, Ana. “The Imitation by Not Imitating: Duns Scotus on Self-Determined Rationality As Imago Dei in Humans”. Nesir: Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi. 9 (October 1, 2025): 47-59. https://doi.org/10.64957/nesir.1797816.
JAMA
1.Lomadze A. The Imitation by Not Imitating: Duns Scotus on Self-determined Rationality as Imago Dei in Humans. Nesir: Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi. 2025;:47–59.
MLA
Lomadze, Ana. “The Imitation by Not Imitating: Duns Scotus on Self-Determined Rationality As Imago Dei in Humans”. Nesir: Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi, no. 9, Oct. 2025, pp. 47-59, doi:10.64957/nesir.1797816.
Vancouver
1.Ana Lomadze. The Imitation by Not Imitating: Duns Scotus on Self-determined Rationality as Imago Dei in Humans. Nesir: Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi. 2025 Oct. 1;(9):47-59. doi:10.64957/nesir.1797816

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