by dinopello » Thu 08 May 2008, 22:34:02
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he word "dunce" was originally a reference to Bl. John Duns Scotus, a 13th century scholastic theologian, whose books on theology, philosophy, and logic were University textbooks. His followers, termed "Dunsmen" or "Dunses", were later challenged about their system of hair-splitting and distinctions. Their obstinacy over an increasing array of challenges posed first by humanists and then by reformers, led to the term "dunses" to denote fools in general.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'D')uns Scotus accepted the wearing of conical hats to increase learning, in the belief that it would funnel knowledge to its wearer (and perhaps in emulation of wizards).