Nicholas of Cusa: A Companion to his Life and his Times

This work is a guide to the life, thought and activities of Nicholas of Cusa (1401-1464), the great fifteenth century philosopher, theologian, jurist, author of mystical and ecclesiastical treatises, cardinal and reformer. It is intended not only for advanced scholars, but also for beginners and those simply curious about a man who has been called 'one of the greatest Germans of the fifteenth century' and a 'medieval thinker for the modern age'. The book provides a series of detailed but readable essays on ideas, persons, and places, a work developed over the course of nearly three decades. First, it contains articles on the important events and concepts that affected Cusanus - philosophical, religious, intellectual and political. Then it turns to his precursors and contemporaries, both friendly and critical. These include philosophers, theologians, politicians, and canon lawyers. And third, the book follows the footsteps of the man from Kues and examines various sites where he lived, studied, or visited. Because the author has also visited many of these sites, he can contribute personal observations to enliven the journey. To add to the book's usefulness as a resource and reference tool, each entry is followed by a bibliography containing both recent and older works. The purpose of the volume is to gain a greater appreciation of Cusanus and his legacy by striving for a total view of his thought and experience instead of narrowly focusing on specific philosophical, theological or intellectual ideas, or certain periods of his activities in isolation from other facets of this compelling figure. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Main Events in the Life of Nicholas of Cusa......Page 14 Works of Nicholas of Cusa......Page 20 Abbreviations......Page 30 Contributors......Page 32 Introduction......Page 46 1. Canon Law......Page 56 2. Great Schism of the West (1378-1417)......Page 63 3. Conciliarism......Page 67 4. Cusanus’ Legation Journey (1450-1452)......Page 74 5. Devotio Moderna......Page 79 6. Fall of Constantinople (1453)......Page 85 7. Congress of Mantua (1459-1460)......Page 90 8. Islam......Page 96 9. Humanism......Page 103 10. Neoplatonism......Page 110 11. Negative Theology......Page 115 1. Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini (1405-1464) in Scotland......Page 120 2. Vincent of Aggsbach (c. 1389-1464)......Page 125 3. Cardinal Bessarion (1403-1472)......Page 128 4. Giovanni Andrea Bussi (1417-1475)......Page 134 5. Heymericus de Campo (1395-1460)......Page 139 6. Giuliano Cesarini (1389?-1444)......Page 145 7. Eleanor of Scotland (1433-1480)......Page 149 8. Peter Wymar von Erkelenz (c. 1430-1494)......Page 153 9. Pope Eugenius IV (1383-1447) (r. 1431-1447)......Page 159 10. Richard Fleming (c. 1378-1431)......Page 170 11. Emperor Frederick III (1415-1493) (r. 1440-1493)......Page 177 12. Gregor Heimburg (c. 1400-1472)......Page 187 13. Johannes Hinderbach (1418-1486)......Page 194 14. Thomas Livingston(e) (d. 1460?)......Page 197 15. Ramon Llull (1232/33-1315/16)......Page 201 16. Pope Nicholas V (1397-1455) (r. 1447-1455)......Page 211 17. Johannes Nider (c. 1380-1438)......Page 223 18. Lodovico Pontano (1409-1439)......Page 230 19. John of Ragusa (1390/95-1443)......Page 235 20. Johannes Rode (c. 1385-1439)......Page 238 21. Juan de Segovia (c. 1393-1458)......Page 243 22. Verena von Stuben (c. 1414-1472?)......Page 249 23. The Monks of Tegernsee......Page 255 24. Juan de Torquemada (1388-1468)......Page 260 25. János Vitéz (c. 1408-1472)......Page 262 26. Bernhard von Waging (c. 1400-1472)......Page 267 1. Kues: The Town......Page 272 2. Manderscheid......Page 275 3. The University of Heidelberg, 1416-1417......Page 280 4. The University of Padua, 1417-1423......Page 283 5. Rome in 1424......Page 286 6. Trier and St. Matthias Abbey......Page 288 7. Altrich......Page 295 8. The University of Cologne......Page 296 9. Chartreuse de Vauvert in Paris......Page 299 10. Bacharach......Page 302 11. Koblenz......Page 306 12. Würzburg......Page 310 13. St. Goar......Page 316 14. Basel......Page 321 15. Constantinople in 1437 and 1438......Page 329 16. Regensburg......Page 338 17. Bologna......Page 343 18. Crete......Page 349 19. Spittal......Page 354 20. Magdeburg......Page 359 21. Wilsnack and Halberstadt......Page 362 22. Havelberg......Page 368 23. Hildesheim......Page 372 24. Minden......Page 377 25. Deventer......Page 381 26. Windesheim and Diepenveen......Page 385 27. Castle Andraz......Page 393 28. Rome under Pius II......Page 397 29. Kues: The Hospital......Page 400 30. Kues: The Library......Page 408 31. Orvieto and Monte Oliveto......Page 415 32. Todi and Ancona......Page 421 Ideas And Events. Canon Law ; Great Schism Of The West (1378-1417) ; Conciliarism ; Cusanus' Legation Journey (1450-1452) ; Devotio Moderna ; Fall Of Constantinople (1453) ; Congress Of Mantua (1459-1460) ; Islam ; Humanism ; Neoplatonism ; Negative Theology -- Persons. Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini (1405-1464) In Scotland ; Vincent Of Aggsbach (c. 1389-1464) ; Cardinal Bessarion (1403-1472) ; Giovannie Andrea Bussi (1417-1475) ; Heymericus De Campo (1395-1460) ; Giuliano Cesarini (1389?-1444) ; Eleanor Of Scotland (1433-1480) ; Peter Wymar Von Erkelenz (c. 1430-1494) ; Pope Eugenius Iv (1383-1447) (r. 1431-1447) ; Richard Fleming (c. 1378-1431) -- Emperor Frederick Iii (1415-1493) (r. 1440-1493) ; Gregor Heimburg (c. 1400-1472) ; Johannes Hinderbach (1418-1486) ; Thomas Livingston(e) (d. 1460?) ; Roman Llull (1232/33-1315/16) ; Pope Nicholas V (1397-1455) (r. 1447-1455) ; Johannes Nider (c. 1380-1438) ; Lodovico Pontano (1409-1439) ; Juan De Segovia (c. 1393-1458) ; Verena Von Stuben (c. 1414-1472?) ; The Monks Of Tegernsee ; Juan De Torquemada (1388-1468) ; János Vitéz (c. 1408-1472) ; Bernhard Von Waging (c. 1400-1472) -- Places. Kues : The Town ; Manderscheid ; The University Of Heidelberg, 1416-1417 ; The University Of Padua, 1417-1423 ; Rome In 1424 ; Trier And St. Matthias Abbey ; Altrich ; The University Of Cologne ; Chartreuse De Vauvert In Paris ; Bacharach ; Koblenz ; Würzburg ; St. Goar ; Basel ; Constantinople In 1437 And 1438 ; Regensburg ; Bologna ; Crete ; Spittal ; Magdeburg ; Wilsnack And Halberstadt ; Havelberg ; Hildesheim ; Minden ; Deveter ; Windesheim And Diepenveen ; Castle Andraz ; Rome Under Pius Ii ; Kues : The Hospital ; Kues : The Library ; Orvieto And Monte Oliveto ; Todi And Ancona. Morimichi Watanabe ; Edited By Gerald Christianson, Thomas M. Izbicki. Includes Bibliographical References. This work is a guide to the life, thought and activities of Nicholas of Cusa (1401-1464), the great 15th-century philosopher, theologian, jurist, author of mystical and ecclesiastical treatises, cardinal, and reformer