Reform, Representation and Theology in Nicholas of Cusa and His Age: (Variorum Collected Studies)

While most works on Nicholas of Cusa concentrate either on his early career as author of the monumental 'Catholic Concordance' or on his later career as writer of remarkable philosophical/theological works such as 'On Learned Ignorance' and 'The Vision of God', the essays included here attempt to address the whole Cusanus, sharing common contexts, issues and themes. Following chapters on the legacy of conciliarism and ecumenicity, the story begins with the Council of Basel for which Cusanus wrote 'The Catholic Concordance', but from which he broke away, raising issues of private conscience as well as the balance between papal authority and representative councils in the pursuit of reform. The story then turns to the 'matrix' between Constantinople and a new council in Ferrara when Cusanus received a ship-board gift from the 'Father of Lights' and began to write his great philosophical/theological treatises. When taken together the essays in this book not only form a cohesive whole, they also enlighten aspects often left in the shade, such as the enigmatic aspects of Cusanus' participation in the council, and his mystical theology that reveals a man of faith in search of certainty beyond the well-trod paths of philosophical reflection.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Introduction; In memoriam H. Lawrence Bond; Guide to the citation of Cusanus' works; Part I Reform and Representation: Evaluating a legacy: The conciliar tradition and ecumenical dialogue, Gerald Christianson; G.G. Coulton: the medieval historian as controversialist, Gerald Christianson; Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini and the historiography of the Council of Basel, Gerald Christianson. Conflict Over Reform: Annates and reform at the Council of Basel, Gerald Christianson. Unity and Heresy: Wyclif's ghost: the politics of reunion at the Council of Basel, Gerald Christianson; Cusanus, concord, and conflict, Gerald Christianson. Representation and Authority: Cardinal Cesarini and Cusa's Concordantia, Gerald Christianson; Nicholas of Cusa, on presidential authority in a general council, H. Lawrence Bond, Gerald Christianson and Thomas M. Izbicki; Nicholas of Cusa and the presidency debate at the Council of Basel, 1434, Gerald Christianson; Cusanus, Cesarini, and the crisis of conciliarism, Gerald Christianson. Part II Reconstructions: Redefining the Theological Task: Nicholas of Cusa from Constantinople to 'learned ignorance': the historical matrix for the formation of De docta ignorantia, H. Lawrence Bond; Nicholas of Cusa and the reconstruction of theology: the centrality of Christology in the coincidence of opposites, H. Lawrence Bond. Locating Mystery: Mystical theology, H. Lawrence Bond; The journey of the soul to God in Nicholas of Cusa's De ludo globi, H. Lawrence Bond; The 'icon' and the 'iconic text' in Nicholas of Cusa's De vision dei i-XVII, H. Lawrence Bond. Seeking God Beyond God: The changing face of Posse: another look at Nicholas of Cusa's De apice theoriae (1464), H. Lawrence Bond; Bibliography of author's works; Index.