Chapter 13 Nicholas Cusanus and Guillaume Postel on Learning and Docta Ignorantia
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Scholarship has already noticed, but never investigated in depth, the influence of Nicholas of Cusa on Guillaume Postel (1510–81), the noted French linguist and philosopher writing in the wake of the Fabrist circle. These similarities occur in different theories formulated by the two intellectuals: in the idea of an achievable universal harmony or concordia among all religions and cultures; in the investigation of the problem of the mediation between men and God; in the engagement with the Islamic world; and in discussion about the nature of the Trinity. Another important field where Cusanus and Postel’s ideas met is the study of the process of human learning. Their engagement with this specific topic aimed at answering the following questions: How do we learn? What do we know, or better, what can we know? What are the limits of the human knowledge? Is it possible to overcome them? This connection will be investigated through the analysis of specific key concepts which demonstrate their respective positions on human learning and their relationship, namely: docta ignorantia; the role of language in the acquisition of knowledge; the role of numbers and mathematical theories used as metaphors of the process of learning. This will lead to a detailed comparison of Cusanus’ De docta ignorantia and Postel’s De Nativitate.