John Duns Scotus, a Scottish Catholic theologian from the thirteenth century, had a complex legacy that evolved over time. Initially highly respected and influential, he gathered a devoted following known as the Dunses or Scotists, who held significant power in European universities until the Renaissance period. However, as humanist reformers emerged and clashed with the conservative Dunses, the term “duns” began to be used as a derogatory term for those opposed to progress and later, for individuals considered dull-witted. The term eventually transformed into “dunce,” and the practice of using “dunce caps” as a form of punishment in Western schools further solidified its negative connotations in society. Despite reaching its peak in usage in 1645, the term “dunce” has gradually declined in usage over the years.
