kapoore
Hi Mike,
I don't know if the term coincidence of opposites was used before Cusa otherwise why would he be credited with inventing the term, but probably the idea was there in some form. But this is the problem again because he is quoted out of context. I think he did take ideas from Proclus who used a similar term, and also of course Ps Dionysius uses opposites in a similar way.
Cusa's idea with this term was that humans can only know approximately because precise knowledge is unattainable. We cannot know the Maximum or the Minimum in measurement, for example. This idea of measurement began the scientific revolution, which is really a project of measuring everything. Yet we cannot have exact measurement. However, the absolute Maximum and the absolute Minimum coincide in the infinite. Everything is comparable in the finite world, but in the Infinite equality is possible. Playing cards are a metaphor for equality because whether a Trump suit or the lowest of the suits the backside is equal, and in shuffling we mix up the hierarchy.
But Huck is right. Cusa did take a stand against playing cards when reforming the clergy in his district where priests were apparently gambling with the parish income. He also took a stand against sex when the nunnery was run like a brothel. But he did see games as beneficial, and if the Tarot was invented for something like a Bible game I am not sure he would have taken a stand against it. There are Bible themes on some Trumps. Just to name a few who have remarked on Bible themes: Robert O'Neill in his Tarot Symbolism as well as his web page; Jeff Karlin in his web page; and Paul Huson in his Mystical Origins of the Tarot. On page 49 of this book, Huson writes that Cardinal Bessarion had a book on sortilege dedicated to him. Bessarion was Cusa's best friend.
The key question with Cusa, Bessarion, etc. is whether they played a card like game at the Council of Mantua. I had a small argument about this on the thread a while back. I asked a professor who was doing research on Cusa's secretary John Bussi to watch out for any info on playing cards. Apparently the quote on Cusa's game was taken from John Bussi who seemed to have a bit of a big mouth. He might have been with Cusa at the Council of Mantua--I think this was his first year of being his secretary. Maybe he was the one who made the report of how the game using the Tarrochi de mantegna was played. Later John Bussi seems to be in possession of the "Mantegna" cards when he is running the printing press for the Vatican.
Now, the summer has ended and maybe the professor's research on Bussi. I'll have to e-mail him before he gets too busy with classes and see what he learned about Bussi, and if in his diaries he reveals any card info...and report back to all of you..
But I am wondering if we aren't off topic here with too much Cusa. If someone wants to offer another thread of a topic that came up in here that isn't right on Tarot/Kabbalah. I feel everyone has made so many great contributions, but I'm not sure where to go from here.
I don't know if the term coincidence of opposites was used before Cusa otherwise why would he be credited with inventing the term, but probably the idea was there in some form. But this is the problem again because he is quoted out of context. I think he did take ideas from Proclus who used a similar term, and also of course Ps Dionysius uses opposites in a similar way.
Cusa's idea with this term was that humans can only know approximately because precise knowledge is unattainable. We cannot know the Maximum or the Minimum in measurement, for example. This idea of measurement began the scientific revolution, which is really a project of measuring everything. Yet we cannot have exact measurement. However, the absolute Maximum and the absolute Minimum coincide in the infinite. Everything is comparable in the finite world, but in the Infinite equality is possible. Playing cards are a metaphor for equality because whether a Trump suit or the lowest of the suits the backside is equal, and in shuffling we mix up the hierarchy.
But Huck is right. Cusa did take a stand against playing cards when reforming the clergy in his district where priests were apparently gambling with the parish income. He also took a stand against sex when the nunnery was run like a brothel. But he did see games as beneficial, and if the Tarot was invented for something like a Bible game I am not sure he would have taken a stand against it. There are Bible themes on some Trumps. Just to name a few who have remarked on Bible themes: Robert O'Neill in his Tarot Symbolism as well as his web page; Jeff Karlin in his web page; and Paul Huson in his Mystical Origins of the Tarot. On page 49 of this book, Huson writes that Cardinal Bessarion had a book on sortilege dedicated to him. Bessarion was Cusa's best friend.
The key question with Cusa, Bessarion, etc. is whether they played a card like game at the Council of Mantua. I had a small argument about this on the thread a while back. I asked a professor who was doing research on Cusa's secretary John Bussi to watch out for any info on playing cards. Apparently the quote on Cusa's game was taken from John Bussi who seemed to have a bit of a big mouth. He might have been with Cusa at the Council of Mantua--I think this was his first year of being his secretary. Maybe he was the one who made the report of how the game using the Tarrochi de mantegna was played. Later John Bussi seems to be in possession of the "Mantegna" cards when he is running the printing press for the Vatican.
Now, the summer has ended and maybe the professor's research on Bussi. I'll have to e-mail him before he gets too busy with classes and see what he learned about Bussi, and if in his diaries he reveals any card info...and report back to all of you..
But I am wondering if we aren't off topic here with too much Cusa. If someone wants to offer another thread of a topic that came up in here that isn't right on Tarot/Kabbalah. I feel everyone has made so many great contributions, but I'm not sure where to go from here.