Quotessence
Home / Books / Learned Ignorance or Docta Ignorantia

Learned Ignorance or Docta Ignorantia

Book by Nicolas Cusa · 1 quotes · Heliocentrism

Filter quotes by topic

AllHeliocentrism

Learned Ignorance or Docta Ignorantia Quotes

“Hence, the world does not have a [fixed] circumference. For if it had a [fixed] center, it would also have a [fixed] circumference; and hence it would have its own beginning and end within itself, and it would be bounded in relation to something else, and beyond the world there would be both something else and space (locus). But all these [consequences] are false. Therefore, since it is not possible for the world to be enclosed between a physical center and [a physical] circumference, the world—of which God is the center and the circumference—is not understood. And although the world is not infinite, it cannot be conceived as finite, because it lacks boundaries within which it is enclosed. Therefore, the earth, which cannot be the center, cannot be devoid of all motion. Indeed, it is even necessary that the earth be moved in such way that it could be moved infinitely less. Therefore, just as the earth is not the center of the world, so the sphere of fixed stars is not its circumference—although when we compare the earth with the sky, the former seems to be nearer to the center, and the latter nearer to the circumference. Therefore, the earth is not the center either of the eighth sphere or of any other sphere. Moreover, the appearance of the six constellations above the horizon does not establish that the earth is at the center of the eighth sphere. [De Docta Ignorantia II, 11 - 156-7]”

Heliocentrism
Book:Learned Ignorance or Docta Ignorantia
Create image