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Nicholas of Cusa (1401-1464) is often called the outstanding intellectual figure of the fifteenth century as well as the principal gatekeeper between medieval and modern philosophy. This volume gives fresh attention to the theological and mystical dimensions of his thought. The introduction casts new and exciting light on the development of Cusa's theology of spirituality. The book also provides for the first time in one volume an English translation of Cusa's basic mystical corpus: On Learned Ignorance; On the Hidden God; On Seeking God; On the Vision of God; and On the Summit of Contemplation. Another unique feature is the annotated glossary of key Cusan terms that accompanies the texts.

Cusa's writings reveal a remarkable imaginative and gifted theologian who anticipated contemporary questions of ecumenicity and pluralism, empowerment and reconciliation, and tolerance and individuality. These translations particularly communicate to us his experience of a very large God that jostles us out of our parochialism.

For all his intellectual power, he never closes his thought into a system. He is a significator and a conjecturer. He keeps pointing beyond his own words and beyond even his prized formulae and labels, including "learned ignorance" and "coincidence of opposites." He persistently brings theology to the edge of incomprehensibility, beyond both positive and negative ways, beyond even paradox and the coincidence of opposites, to the realm of the Purely Absolute and Infinite, to the contemplation of Possibility Itself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Beautiful synthesis of theology, philosophy and mysticism
Nicholas of Cusa is a rare and lonely genius who straddles the time of change between the late medieval period and the early Renaissance.A cardinal in the Roman Church, Cusa like many more modern mystics, led a highly active as well as contemplative life.

This collection of writings includes Cusa's most important work, 'On Learned Ignorance' as well as several smaller works including 'The Vision of God' and 'The Unknown God.'

Cusa's mysticism is deeply speculative and intellectual, perhaps more so than any other Christian mystic except Eckhart and Eriugena.At the heart of Cusa's mysticism is God's absolute infinity, which renders God utterly and entirely incomprehensible to the human mind.Because incomprehensibility is not merely due to a defect of the human mind but is an attribute of God himself, Cusa rigorously adopts a strongly apophatic approach to God, developed along lines already laid out by Dionysius the Aeropagite, Eckhart, and Scotus Eriugena.

In the Learned Ignorance Cusa likens God to the 'absolute maximum' who while ineffable, contains the fullness of being and reality.The absolute maximum is God's essence as it is in itself, what philosophers might now call the Absolute.In the absolute maximum, which is basically God's infinite nature, all coincidences and opposites merge into one basic unity.In other words, the many become the one and the one becomes the many in God's plenitude of being.

Cusa then goes on to describe how God is related to the universe.The universe is the absolute contractum or minimum, crudely a mirror of God's infinity and infinite itself, but not God.The universe presents the believer with an overwhelming expression of God's ineffability, however God himself by virtue of his absolute infinity remains shrouded in incomprehensibility and mystery.One of Cusa's favourite sayings is the ancient maxim 'God is a sphere whose circumference is everywhere and centre is nowhere.'

Cusa also argues that as God is radically unknowable, also the universe is in a way radically unknowable.Humans are engaged in an ever deepening vision of God through creatures, though God himself will forever remain unknown to the created mind.Like Eriugena and Eckhart, Cusa pushes his apophatic theology and mysticism to the very limit and seems to argue at times even creatures themselves are somehow theophanies or appearances of deeper realities or reality which we can never know.In this sense he seems to anticipate Kant, who put a radical barrier between the knowable and the unknown.

Cusa's vision of God contains astonishing philosophical and theological depth which remains unmatched until the arrival of Spinoza.His vistas of an infinite universe are perhaps unmatched until the arrival of the mystical cosmology of Giordo Bruno and the universe of Isaac Newton.

While perhaps Cusa's vision may not be appropriate for today's universe, his courage in exploring the hidden deeps of God's being are to be admired for their profoundity and originality, and one looks forward with hope to the next Cusa who will integrate all things into a grand vision before which one feels only awe.

A Path to a Pure Spiritual/Modern World
This book is one of many translations that are currently being made for English language readers on the 15th century writings of Nicholas of Cusa.New translations of Cusanus writings began to appear in the late 1970s by Jasper Hopkins of the University of Minnesota.Free copies of some of Hopkins translations are available on the Internet at http://www.cla.umn.edu/jhopkins/.Today, translations of these 15th century writings are also being made by the American Cusanus Society.The author of this book is past president of this society.

The writings of Nicholas of Cusa are significant because his writings, on God and our world, initiated the modern world in which we live today.To me, his writings are the most important religious writings to be found on amazon.com today.His writing will help people transform the out-dated ancient views of God and our world they have been taught into modern viewssupported by modern science.Without this transformation, a person becomes conservative with a closed mind and will not understand the natural changes that are taking place among liberal and open-minded people.

This book is a necessary addition to any home or public library.It is necessary by any person who is working on the unification of science and theology.And, it is necessary for any person who believes that a pure spiritual/modern world is possible beyond the materialistic-driven spiritual/modern world in which we live today today.

The Neo-Gnostic Christian Mystic
Of all the great Christian mystics that I have read, Nicholas de Cusa is one of the finest. In the masterpiece "On Learned Ignorance" he reveals the "coincidence of opposites," which is the point in infinity when all opposites unite and become blended together in God's infinity, the Infinite Line, which is the Absolute Maximum and Absolute Minimum combined, i.e., the two points (contradictions) of a finite line converging and becoming unified, or equal in God's un-being existence, where there is no proportion between the infinite and the finite. He believed that Jesus Christ is the Gate Keeper of the "coincidence of opposites." We can only understand God through a "learned ignorance" because God is beyond being, beyond all understanding. This work alone is worth the cost of the entire book. Also included are "Dialogue on the Hidden God," "On Seeking God," "On the Vision of God," and "On the Summit of Contemplation." All these works together form a synthesis in Nicholas' philosophy/theology. Nicholas was very gnostic. He takes Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite's mysticism to the next level, if that is even possible. You will also see the obvious influence that Meister Eckhart had on him. There's a wonderful Foreward, Introduction, Abbreviations, Notes to the Text, A Brief Glossary of Cusan Terms, Select Bibliography, and Indexes. This book is a must have for any Christian-mysticism collection. I highly recommend this volume.

A Delightful Experience!
This book affords the scholar and novice alike a wonderful foray into the thought of Nicholas of Cusa.A fine collection of principal titles by Cusanus, this book is one full of enigmatic charm and probing insight!The forward and introduction provide a helpful entryway to the texts which aresupplemented by a useful glossary of key terms and several notes. ... Read more

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Nicholas of Cusa (1401-1464) was one of the most illustrious figures of the fifteenth century--a man whose imagination spanned the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance to point the way to modernity.

Theologian, philosopher, canon lawyer, reformer, church statesman, and cardinal, Cusanus' ideas of learned ignorance and the coincidence of opposites still attract attention today across a wide variety of disciplines. However, there is no one book in the marketplace that explains to a general audience all the different facets of this Renaissance man. This book, which might be considered "Nicholas of Cusa 101," offers separate chapters for the non-specialist introducing the vocabulary, ideas, and works of Nicholas of Cusa on a wide variety of topics.

The book also provides a guide to his works in Latin, English, and other languages; all the secondary literature on each topic treated; a glossary of Cusan terms and ideas; and a guide to Cusan societies, sites, libraries, and museums. ... Read more

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This is the first English translation of the most important work of political thought of the fifteenth century. The Catholic Concordance is the first major treatise to argue for consent through representative councils as a major prerequisite for legitimate law and government, and is the most learned and original work associated with the conciliar movement in the late medieval church. Cusa's arguments influenced such thinkers as Luther, Bruno and Locke, andProfessor Sigmund's introduction places his work in its full historical and philosophical context. ... Read more

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Taken from the Great Philosphers, Volume II.
... Read more

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Nicholas of Cusa was a Christian mystic who lived during the 1400s. The Vision of God is known as a classic of Christian mysticism, putting many believers in touch with the divine. Many Christians have a desire to experience God, rather than just believe in Him. Nicholas of Cusa provides an excellent guidebook for Christians who sense something deeper to the Christian experience. He was a mystic. He experienced God on a number of levels and taught people to move beyond mere belief and have similar experiences. By bringing spiritual principles into the Christian religious setting, Nicholas was able to instruct and enrich thousands of people. This he did at a time when Christianity was beginning to cast a long shadow of strict dogma over the masses-it was the dawning of the Inquisition-yet Nicholas was able to keep his mystical teachings safely within the boundaries of the Church. During this incredibly busy and volatile time, Nicholas engaged himself whenever he could in meditation and study. It is from these introspective journeys that he received his spiritual insights. He also spent much time with a group of Benedictine monks, who asked for spiritual guidance from Nicholas after recognizing his gifts. Nicholas responded with The Vision of God in December of 1453. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A spiritual classic
Nicholas of Cusa is unknown to many Christians, which is unfortunate. He was very insightful about spiritual things, but he also possessed a formidable intellect that was very much at home among the loftiest themes of philosophy and theology. My first exposure to him came 30 years ago in philosophy grad school in a class on his "On Learned Ignorance"--another classic. Because my first exposure to him had been at the philosophical level, I was pleasantly surprised to encounter him in this book as a simple soul in love with God. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

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This translation of Erich Meuthen's well-known biography of Nicholas of Cusa presents the foremost summary of Cusanus's life and thought. From its original edition in 1964 through its seventh edition in 1992, Meuthen's sketch has found an appreciative audience. As Meuthen takes readers through Cusanus's life (1401-1464) they will be amazed that, in an age when writers set down every word with quill and ink, and one traversed every mile on land by foot or horse, Cusanus covered thousands of miles, maintained detailed administration of church affairs, rose in rank to cardinal, served as a papal legate, and still found time to write penetrating treatises such as The Catholic Concordance, Learned Ignorance, The Vision of God, and The Peace of Faith.

While rendering Meuthen's language into smooth prose that still reflects his style and intent, the translators have added an introduction that describes the historical context for Cusanus. New also is a glossary of terms, as well as an updated bibliography of Cusanus research compiled by Hans Gerhard Senger, and a tribute to Meuthen by Morimichi Watanabe. ... Read more

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Nicholas of Cusa (1401 64), doctor of canon law, church politician and philosopher, was one of the most important thinkers of 15th century Europe. This year marks the sixth centenary of his birth. Scholars from round the globe gathered in Tokyo for the 19th Cusanus Congress last year; this volume makes their contributions more widely available. Major themes examined include tradition and innovation, religion, the relevance of Nicholas of Cusa's thought for today, the relationship between East and West in his thought, and the development of his thought and scholarship as we enter a new millennium. Multilingual text: English, German, French. ... Read more

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This volumes contains studies on Nicholas of Cusa and his times. The firstsection is concerned with Cusanus' context, beginning with a historiographicessay by Francis Oakley on the impact of Brian Tierney's Foundations ofthe Conciliar Theory. Among the topics addressed are the long-termcontinuation of the Council of Basel (1431-1449) and the issues ofecclesiastical income which it addressed. The second part is concerned withCusanus' thought on the Church, both in his conciliarist and papalist phases.Included is the first translation into English of Nicholas' Reformatiogeneralis. Attention also is paid to Cusanus' reforming efforts and therelationship of his thought on these issues to his earliest speculativewritings. The third part is concerned with Nicholas' ideas on Christ andmystical experience.Particular attention is paid to the De visione dei, including itsrelationship to Renaissance art. The volume concludes with wide-ranging essayson the larger significance of Cusanus' speculative thought. An update ofThomas M. Izbicki's bibliography of Cusanus scholarship in English isincluded. ... Read more

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3rd edition (College Text) ... Read more

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This volume reproduces Morimichi Watanabe's scholarly essays on Nicholas of Cusa (1401-64). Cusa was a philosopher, theologian and church statesman, and the essays in the book cover his thoughts and personal philosophy on many subjects throughout the 15th century. ... Read more

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The history of philosophy has painted two differing, if not contradictory, images of Nicholas of Cusa. He was hitherto considered either as a mystical theologian or as a political philsopher. This book is a comparative study of the two great works that have generated these divergent representations of the 15th century German thinker, namely De concordantia catholica and De docta ignorantia. The study yields an understanding of the continuity and discontinuity in the thinking of the Cusanus of the Council of Basel and that of the post-Basel period. This book also provides details that are necessary to offer a unified as well as a dynamic thought, which is of vital importance to argue for the continued relevance of medieval thought in contemporary times ... Read more

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Introduction to Nicholas of Cusa's sermons (years 1430-1463). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Came Quick as ordered!!
I had long thought this book unavailable and I when I saw it on amazon, I must say, I was skeptical. But it was the right book, and it came very fast!Thank you Very much!5 Stars! ... Read more