Why did John Duns Scotus place love above knowledge?

John Duns Scotus placed love above knowledge because he adhered to the traditional Franciscan doctrine of voluntarism, which elevates the human will over the intellect.12

For Duns Scotus, theology was not merely a speculative discipline but a practical science aimed at achieving union with the divine Trinity through love. He argued that the essence of heaven consists in beatific love rather than the mere intellectual vision of God. This perspective was rooted in his belief that the universe is contingent and entirely dependent on God’s infinite creative will, rather than being governed by necessary causes. By prioritizing the will, he emphasized that the ultimate goal of human existence is a mystical union with God, which is realized through love rather than through the limitations of human knowledge.3412