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Die Übung zur visio facialis inmitten alltäglicher Umwelt

Kazuhiko Yamaki

Internationale Zeitschrift für Kulturkomparatistik October 29, 2025 DOI: 10.25353/ubtr-izfk-e63a-c25c (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed
Keywords Nicholas of cusa Surroundings Visio facialis Exercise
Key points Argues that Cusanus's 'De visione Dei' is a record of his own solitary practice of the visio facialis exercise, and that the performative atmosphere is key to understanding the text.

Abstract

The visio facialis exercise in everyday surroundings Nicholas of Cusa's treatise 'De visione Dei' aims to introduce the reader to the practice of mystical experience. The treatise is usually interpreted from the beginning of the work. The experiments with the all-seeing eicona dei form the framework. The thesis of this article is that the entire content of Cusa's treatise can only be understood if one considers the book as a whole and reflects on its composition. The main point is that the author, Cardinal and Bishop of Brixen, Cusanus, carried out this practice alone in his own room in the bishop's residence and that the content of this work was written as a record of this practice. Thus, the performativity of the atmosphere proves to be decisive for the content of the text.