Moeseg Cyfraith Naturiol Johannes Duns Scotus: a oes ganddi gysylltiadau ‘Cymreig’? (The Natural Law Ethics of John Duns Scotus: does it have ‘Welsh’ connections?)

It is argued that John Duns Scotus’s treatment of concrete moral topics such as slavery, inheritance and marriage exhibits characteristics of medieval Welsh laws. This is explicable by the latter’s closeness to the ancient Brythonic laws of Scotland. Their commonalities explain John Duns Scotus’s attitude to these topics and the use he makes of natural law theory alongside the Book of Genesis to defend his viewpoints. The inference is made that his aim was to develop a critical account of the natural law which could defend the ideal of the ancient Brythonic laws of Scotland against Anglo-Norman hostility.