Author Archive

Nicholas of Cusa

Nicholas of Cusa (1401–1464) was a German philosopher, theologian, and mathematician whose work bridged medieval Scholasticism and Renaissance humanism. His major treatise De Docta Ignorantia (On Learned Ignorance) revolutionized epistemology by asserting that human knowledge is inherently limited, leading to a mystical approach to God as the “coincidence of opposites” (coincidentia oppositorum). He further advanced philosophical cosmology in De Visione Dei and pioneered mathematical infinity in De Quadratura Circuli , influencing later thinkers from Giordano Bruno to Leibniz.

20 summaries in the archive

Christian Theology The Idiot (Idiota) – Nicholas of Cusa Nicholas of Cusa

Nicholas of Cusa's Idiota is a philosophical dialogue composed in the mid-fifteenth century, written in Latin and consisting…

14 min read

Christian Theology Three Dialogues on Power (Dialogus de possest) – Nicholas of Cusa Nicholas of Cusa

The Dialogus de possest is a philosophical dialogue written by Nicholas of Cusa in 1460, near the end…

16 min read

Christian Theology The Preacher at the Gate (Sermo de porta) – Nicholas of Cusa Nicholas of Cusa

Nicholas of Cusa's Sermo de porta (The Sermon at the Gate) is a theological dialogue composed in the…

15 min read

Church History Letters and Documents on the Brixen Dispute – Nicholas of Cusa Nicholas of Cusa

The Brixen dispute was a conflict between Nicholas of Cusa and Duke Sigismund of Austria over the diocese…

5 min read

Geometry Mathematical Writings (Scripta mathematica) – Nicholas of Cusa Nicholas of Cusa

This collection presents Nicholas of Cusa’s Latin treatises on arithmetic and geometry with translation and notes, centering on…

2 min read

Christian Theology On Catholic Concordance (De concordantia catholica) – Nicholas of Cusa Nicholas of Cusa

De concordantia catholica is Nicholas of Cusa's major early work of political and ecclesiological theory, written in 1433…

14 min read

Christian Theology The Layman on the Mind (Idiota de mente) – Nicholas of Cusa Nicholas of Cusa

Idiota de mente (The Layman on the Mind) is a philosophical dialogue written by Nicholas of Cusa in…

16 min read

Epistemology On Conjectures (De coniecturis) – Nicholas of Cusa Nicholas of Cusa

On Conjectures (De coniecturis) is Nicholas of Cusa’s philosophical-theological treatise on the nature, scope, and limits of human…

4 min read

History of Philosophy On the Origin (De principio) – Nicholas of Cusa Nicholas of Cusa

De principio (On the Origin or On the Beginning) is a philosophical-theological treatise by Nicholas of Cusa, composed…

19 min read

Christian Theology Apology for Learned Ignorance (Apologia doctae ignorantiae) – Nicholas of Cusa Nicholas of Cusa

The Apologia doctae ignorantiae is a brief polemical treatise written by Nicholas of Cusa in 1449, four years…

16 min read

Christian Theology On the Non-Other (De non aliud) – Nicholas of Cusa Nicholas of Cusa

This volume belongs to a distinct and somewhat unusual genre of legal publishing: the consolidated law report.

55 min read

History of Philosophy On the Beryl (De beryllo) – Nicholas of Cusa Nicholas of Cusa

Nicholas of Cusa's De beryllo is a philosophical treatise written in 1458, near the end of his life,…

16 min read

Art History On the Vision of God (De visione Dei) – Nicholas of Cusa Nicholas of Cusa

The volume gathered here under the title On the Vision of God is, in the form in which…

54 min read

Christian Theology On the Game of Spheres (De ludo globi) – Nicholas of Cusa Nicholas of Cusa

De ludo globi is a philosophical dialogue written by Nicholas of Cusa in 1463, near the end of…

17 min read

Christian Theology The Layman on Wisdom (Idiota de sapientia) – Nicholas of Cusa Nicholas of Cusa

Idiota de sapientia is a philosophical dialogue written by Nicholas of Cusa in 1450, forming the first part…

16 min read