Nicolaus Cusanus and the University Philosophy: Paris, Cologne and Leuven

The legacy of Nicolaus Cusanus with regard to the university philosophy has rarely been of interest for academics. This is due to several factors, including his minimal involvement in the university environment, his reluctance towards the teaching methods proposed in the universities and his writing style which was so distant from the Summae and quaestiones. However, one should consider that Cusanus’ philosophical education predominantly took place in university contexts, mainly in Cologne, and he most likely had already heard about Peripatetic philosophy in Padua, some years earlier. This article will recount, from a biographical and doctrinal point of view, the period in which Cusanus encountered the university philosophy of Paris and Cologne and will analyze his position with regard to university teaching.