Abstract
The anthropology of Nicholas of Cusa represents the heart of his philosophy and theology. The human being always plays a special role: he is not only image of God, but also intended by the Creator, who wished to manifest his glory to a creature which is able to know him. On the basis of this characterization, the human being has certain godlike potentialities which must be realized if he is to come nearer to his archetype: intellectuality and freedom. For Cusa this represents a dynamic process which can be infinitely increased, leading him to call man a living image (imago viva) of God. The essay focuses on some problematic issues in Cusa’s anthropology which concerns the application of his theory to human reality, for example the role of women as living images. Finally, some reflections are offered concerning Cusa himself as a godlike human being.
© 2014 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston
