Die Übung zur visio facialis inmitten alltäglicher Umwelt

Nicholas of Cusa's treatise 'De visione Dei' is a guide to mystical practice, not merely a philosophical text. The article argues that the work must be read as a whole, with attention to its composition, because Cusanus wrote it as a record of his own solitary practice in his room at the bishop's residence. The performative atmosphere of this setting is decisive for understanding the text's content, which centers on the all-seeing icon (eicona dei) and the visio facialis exercise. The author contends that interpreting only the beginning of the treatise misses this essential context.

Study at a glance

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.