Nicholas of Cusa (1401–64,) also known as Nicolaus Cusanus, was a German theologian, mathematician, reformer, experimental scientist, and influential philosopher who stressed the incomplete nature of humanity’s knowledge of God and the universe. He was a pivotal figure in the transition from medieval to early modern thought.
Born in Kues, modern-day Bernkastel-Kues, Germany, Nicholas was educated at the University of Heidelberg and the University of Padua, where he received a doctorate in canon law in 1423. Ordained a priest around 1440, Cusa was made a cardinal in Brixen (Bressanone,) Italy, by Pope Nicholas V, and in 1450 he was elevated to bishop there. For two years, Cusa served as Nicholas’ legate to Germany, after which he began to serve full-time as bishop of Brixen.
One of Nicholas’s most significant contributions is his philosophical treatise, De Docta Ignorantia (1440, On Learned Ignorance,) which explored the limits of human knowledge and the idea that true understanding comes from recognizing one’s ignorance. De Concordantia Catholica (1434, The Catholic Concordance) addressed church reform and the unity of Christendom.
As a cardinal, Nicholas played a crucial role in the political and ecclesiastical affairs of his time, participating in the Council of Basel and engaging in diplomatic missions for the Pope. His theological writings, including De Visione Dei (The Vision of God) and De Possest (On Actualized Potentiality,) reflect his deep contemplative spirituality and his efforts to reconcile faith and reason. In addition, he pioneered diagnostic medicine, applied science, and experimentation. He anticipated Copernicus, studied plant growth, mapped Europe, and collected significant manuscripts.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Nicholas of Cusa
Ability doth hit the mark where presumption overshooteth and diffidence falleth short.
—Nicholas of Cusa
Topics: Ability
All we know of the truth is that the absolute truth, such as it is, is beyond our reach.
—Nicholas of Cusa
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