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| '''Nicholas of Cusa''' (] - ], ]) was a cardinal of the ], a ], a ], and an ] |
'''Nicholas of Cusa''' (] - ], ]) was a cardinal of the ], a ], a ], and an ] whose exploration of human creativity succeeded in overcoming the ] of the ] and laid the foundations for the ] and the Golden Renaissance of ]. Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa's '']'' and '']'' are the bases for the generalization of both the kind of physical science later typified by the work of ]. He is also one of founders of the principle of the ] ], with his notion of man in society on which the principled organization of the relations among the citizens of a ] ] is premised. | ||
| He was born '''Nikolaus Krebs''' in ], ] (latinized as "Cusa") to a merchant family, and received his doctorate in ] from the ] in 1423. After a successful career as a ], he was made a cardinal by ] in 1448 or 1449, and was named ] in 1450. His work as bishop was opposed by ]; the duke imprisoned Nicholas in 1460, for which ] ] Sigismund and laid an ] on his lands. Nicholas of Cusa was never able to return to his bishopric, however: Sigmund's capitulation in 1464 came a few days after Nicholas's death at ] in ]. | |||
| Nicholas of Cusa was noted for his deeply ] writings about ], particularly the nature of the ]. Many believe he was influenced in this by the work of ]. He was suspected by some of holding ] beliefs, but his writings were never accused as being ]. Most of his mystical ideas can be found in his essays, '''' (Of Learned Ignorance) and (Vision of God). | Nicholas of Cusa was noted for his deeply ] writings about ], particularly the nature of the ]. Many believe he was influenced in this by the work of ]. He was suspected by some of holding ] beliefs, but his writings were never accused as being ]. Most of his mystical ideas can be found in his essays, '''' (Of Learned Ignorance) and (Vision of God). | ||
| Nicholas |
Nicholas was ahead of his time in the field of science. Though he predated ] by half a century, Nicholas suggested in some of his scientific writings that the Earth was a nearly spherical shape that revolved around the Sun, and that each star is itself a distant sun. He was not, however, describing a scientifically verifiable theory of the universe: his beliefs (which proved uncannily accurate) were based almost entirely on his own personal speculations and ] calculations. He made contributions to the field of ] by developing the concepts of the infinitesimal and of relative motion. Cusa was the first to use ]es to correct ]. | ||
| In 1433, he proposed a method to elect ] that, while it was not adopted by the Church, was essentially the same method known today as the ], which is used in many academic institutions, competitions, and even some political jurisdictions, in original form and a number of variations. His proposal preceded ]'s work by over three centuries. | In 1433, he proposed a method to elect ] that, while it was not adopted by the Church, was essentially the same method known today as the ], which is used in many academic institutions, competitions, and even some political jurisdictions, in original form and a number of variations. His proposal preceded ]'s work by over three centuries. | ||
Revision as of 04:59, 2 July 2005
Nicholas of Cusa (1401 - August 11, 1464) was a cardinal of the Catholic Church, a philosopher, a mathematician, and an astronomer whose exploration of human creativity succeeded in overcoming the Dark Age of the Fourteenth century and laid the foundations for the Italian Renaissance and the Golden Renaissance of Florence. Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa's Concordantia Catholica and De Docta Ignorantia are the bases for the generalization of both the kind of physical science later typified by the work of Bernhard Riemann. He is also one of founders of the principle of the sovereign nation-state, with his notion of man in society on which the principled organization of the relations among the citizens of a modern republic is premised.
He was born Nikolaus Krebs in Kues, Germany (latinized as "Cusa") to a merchant family, and received his doctorate in canon law from the University of Padua in 1423. After a successful career as a papal legate, he was made a cardinal by Pope Nicholas V in 1448 or 1449, and was named Bishop of Brixen in 1450. His work as bishop was opposed by Archduke Sigismund of Austria; the duke imprisoned Nicholas in 1460, for which Pope Pius II excommunicated Sigismund and laid an interdict on his lands. Nicholas of Cusa was never able to return to his bishopric, however: Sigmund's capitulation in 1464 came a few days after Nicholas's death at Todi in Umbria.
Nicholas of Cusa was noted for his deeply mystical writings about Christianity, particularly the nature of the Trinity. Many believe he was influenced in this by the work of Thomas a Kempis. He was suspected by some of holding pantheistic beliefs, but his writings were never accused as being heretical. Most of his mystical ideas can be found in his essays, De Docta Ignorantia (Of Learned Ignorance) and De Visione Dei (Vision of God).
Nicholas was ahead of his time in the field of science. Though he predated Copernicus by half a century, Nicholas suggested in some of his scientific writings that the Earth was a nearly spherical shape that revolved around the Sun, and that each star is itself a distant sun. He was not, however, describing a scientifically verifiable theory of the universe: his beliefs (which proved uncannily accurate) were based almost entirely on his own personal speculations and numerological calculations. He made contributions to the field of mathematics by developing the concepts of the infinitesimal and of relative motion. Cusa was the first to use concave lenses to correct myopia.
In 1433, he proposed a method to elect Holy Roman Emperors that, while it was not adopted by the Church, was essentially the same method known today as the Borda count, which is used in many academic institutions, competitions, and even some political jurisdictions, in original form and a number of variations. His proposal preceded Borda's work by over three centuries.
Upon his death, his body was interred in the Church of St. Peter ad Vincula in Rome, but was later lost. In accordance with his wishes, his heart is within the chapel altar at Cusanusstift in Kues he founded and bequeathed his entire inheritance to: it still stands, and serves the purpose Nicholas intended for it, as a home for the aged.
External links
- Bernkastel-Kues tribute to Nikolaus von Kues
- biography of Nicholas of Cusa
- MacTutor biography, focusing on mathematical achievements
- Catholic Encyclopedia article on Nicholas of Cusa