Cusanus Conception Of The Physical World

Cusanus' conception of the physical world is both surprising and unique when one takes into consideration the era in which Cusanus had lived in. Laboring during the height of Christian religious exploration , Cusanus was heavily affected by his surroundings. Like most Catholics during the medieval ages, he accepted a deeply religious and Christian worldview. This observance, however, did not blind him completely as he refused to believe in a total worldview. He realized that to do so was no longer a viable option in the grand scheme of things. Concepts such as adequacy and appropriateness was also not seen as the correct path for the understanding of the physical world. Therefore, the ideology of approximation was sought out to take their place as the predominant viewpoint. Whereas traditional worldviews offered a complete understanding of the physical world, approximation on the other hand offered room for the possibility of doubt and misinterpretation. While the traditional ways prevented the idea of discovering the unknown, approximation would thrived in the world of possibilities as well as the …show more content…
What the metaphors do is extrapolate from well define concepts that very familiar and easy to grasp. These concepts must be dynamic enough for the images to expand beyond its reasonable limits to the absurd. The goal of this expansion is to transcend the human mind to a place were it can think different or even possibly be different. A great example of this is his utilization of squares and circles. Take the image of a perfect circle and imagine fitting in it as many polygons as possible. Eventually, the polygons will form the very circle in which they are being place in. In becoming this new an expansive circle they are now infinite and unintelligible. When one realizes this, they may open their mind to the prospect of enlightenment and the chance of becoming something