Duns Scotus was a medieval Scottish philosopher and theologian, born around 1266. He is best known for his work in scholasticism, particularly his ideas on metaphysics and ethics. Scotus emphasized the importance of individual entities and their unique qualities, which contrasted with the more general approaches of his predecessors like Thomas Aquinas. His most notable contribution is the concept of "univocity of being," which argues that existence can be understood in the same way across different beings. This idea influenced later philosophical thought and laid the groundwork for modern discussions in metaphysics and theology. Scotus's work remains significant in the study of medieval philosophy.