Universum Infinitum. From the German Philosopher Nicolaus Cusanus (1401–1464) to the Iberian Discoveries in the 15th Century: Ocean World in European Exploration

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Universum Infinitum. From the German Philosopher Nicolaus Cusanus (1401–1464) to the Iberian Discoveries in the 15th Century: Ocean World in European Exploration

Veranstalter
Dr. Thomas HORST (CIUHCT, University of Lisbon) in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Harald SCHWAETZER and Dr. Matthias VOLLET (both: Kueser Akademie für Europäische Geistesgeschichte und Cusanus-Hochschule, Bernkastel-Kues/Germany) and the kind help of the “Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal” (BNP).
Veranstaltungsort
Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal
Ort
Lisbon
Land
Portugal
Vom - Bis
17.06.2016 - 19.06.2016
Deadline
10.06.2016
Website
http://www.ciuhct.org/pt/workshop_universum_infinitum
Von
Horst, Thomas

The German cardinal Nikolaus von Kues (Nicolaus Cusanus/ Nicholas of Cusa, 1401–1464) is mostly known today for his elaborate philosophical work. His interesting life and voluminous opus is well documented (cf. Nicolai de Cusa opera omnia et auctoritate Academiae Litterarum Heidelbergensis ad codicum fidem edita and Acta Cusana): As one of the first proponents of Renaissance humanism Nicolaus was not only a key figure of the 15th century, with strong interest in theology, philosophy and canon law, but also in astronomy, mapmaking and particularly in cosmography. But what did the term “cosmography” mean in those days? And in what sense was the universe considered infinite? What about the intellectual and personal connections of Cusanus to the Iberian Peninsula, where scientific and technological knowledge was exchanged with the Holy Roman Empire? What role does Cusanus play in the history of science of the early modern period, on the eve of European Exploration to the Ocean world and its repercussions? And does his work already reflect the intellectual reception of the New World in Europe, which included also a spiritual expansion of the Christian world?

Our international workshop “Universum Infinitum. From the German Philosopher Nicolaus Cusanus (1401–1464) to the Iberian Discoveries in the 15th Century: Ocean World in European Exploration” will try to give answers to some of these questions. In connection with this, the interdisciplinary conference will deal with a variety of aspects of the 15th and 16th centuries: contemporary cartography, cosmographical view of the world, humanistic thought of philosophical/theological works and natural history. For this meeting we will bring together international scholars, who are all concerned with Nikolaus von Kues and his time in a broad sense. Our speakers are experts in various areas: philosophy, (church) history, history of discoveries, theology, natural sciences, mathematics, history of instruments, cartography, cosmography and astrology – the best asset for an interdisciplinary workshop.

The papers will be given in German, Portuguese, Spanish, French, or English; each presentation will be allotted 20 minutes, sufficient discussion time for the symposium participants is added.

Programm

Friday / Freitag, 17.06.2016

09:30–11:00
Opening Session (Chairman: Dr. Thomas HORST)
Prof. Dr. Henrique LEITÃO (CIUHCT, Lisbon): Short Welcome Speech
Dr. Thomas HORST (CIUHCT, Lisbon): Introduction: The cosmographical network of Nicolaus Cusanus and German-Portuguese relations in the Humanism
Prof. Dr. Harald SCHWAETZER (Kueser Akademie für Europäische Geistesgeschichte and Cusanus-Hochschule, Bernkastel-Kues/Germany): Cosmography as Christological Phenomenology
Dr. Matthias VOLLET (Kueser Akademie für Europäische Geistesgeschichte, Bernkastel-Kues/Germany): Das Universum als metaphysische Größe bei Nicolaus Cusanus

11:00–11:30
Break

11:30–13:00
Panel I: “Universum Infinitum” – Cosmology and Cosmography in the 15th Century (Chairman: Prof. Dr. Harald SCHWAETZER)
Prof. Dr. Jean-Marie NICOLLE (Rouen/France): En quel sens l’univers est-il infini?
Prof. Dr. Gregor NICKEL (Universität Siegen/Germany): Nec finitum – nec infinitum. Erwägungen zur Kosmologie des Nikolaus Cusanus
Dr. Johanna HUECK (Cusanus-Hochschule, Bernkastel-Kues/Germany): Nicholas of Cusa as Cosmographer

13:00–14:30
Lunch break

14:30–16:30
Panel II: Ocean World in European Exploration: Reflection of Iberian Discoveries on texts and maps (Chairman: Dr. SAMUEL GESSNER)
Prof. Dr. Jürgen POHLE (CHAM, Lisbon): Die deutsche Beteiligung an den überseeischen Expeditionen Portugals im 15. Jahrhundert: von Oswald von Wolkenstein bis Martin Behaim
Harald GROPP (University of Heidelberg, Germany): Writing meridians of water into the maps – from Tordesillas till Zaragoza
Robert KING (National Library of Australia): Magnus Sinus, Java and Locach from Martellus to Mercator, 1489–1569
Prof. Dr. Karl GALLE (Linda Hall Library, Egypt/USA): Spicing Up Natural Philosophy: Global Trade Footprints in Early Recipes and their Implications for the Exchange of Manuscripts and Ideas

20:00
Conference Diner

Sabado / Samstag, 18.06.2016
9:30–11:00
Panel III: Constructing a new world (Chairman: Dr. Matthias VOLLET)
Prof. Dr. José MARTÍNEZ GÁZQUEZ (Barcelona): Nuevas glosas de Nicolás de Cusa al Alchoranus Latinus en el ms Vat. Lat. 4071 de la BAV
Dr. Davide SCOTTO (Tübingen University/Germany): Shifting the Humanist Understanding of Islam. Peter Martyr d’Anghiera’s Worldview from the Mediterranean to the New World
Dr. Cristóvão S. MARINHEIRO (National Library of Luxembourg): Mapping a new World with ancient authors. The reception of antique authors in the De coelo by the Conimbricenses and their role in the constructing a new imago mundi

11:00–11:15
Break

11:15–12:45
Panel IV: Intellectual practice in astronomy and astrology of the 15th Century: Cusanus and his influence on the History of Science (Chairman: Prof. Dr. Henrique LEITÃO)
Dr. Thomas HORST (CIUHCT, University of Lisbon): „The Cosmographer Nicolaus Cusanus (1401–1464) and his Philosophical Game with the Globe: The Dialogus de ludo globi“
Dr. Samuel GESSNER (CIUHCT, University of Lisbon): „Astronomical Instruments in the fifteenth century: the astrolabe in the Cusanusstift of Bernkastel-Kues revisited“
Prof. Dr. Darin HAYTON (USA): Astrology as Science and Politics in Maximilian’s Vienna

12:45–13:00
Discussion and formal end of the workshop
Lunch (with the possibility to informal discussions)

17:30–19:30
Tour through Lisbon with old maps with Prof. Dr. João Carlos Garcia (only for registered participants)

Sunday / Sonntag, 19.06.2016
Day Tour to Sintra, Mafra and Ericeira (together with Prof. Dr. João Carlos Garcia, only for registered participants)

Kontakt

Thomas HORST

CIUHCT, University of Lisbon

thomashorst@gmx.net

http://www.ciuhct.org/pt/workshop_universum_infinitum