Folia Theologica 16. (2005)
Pál Bolberitz: The Beginnings of Hungarian Philosphy (The Reception of Nicholas of Cusa in the work of "De homine" by Peter Monedulatus Csokas Laskoi)
THE BEGINNINGS OF HUNGARIAN PHILOSOPHY 25 In the middle of the upper world is God; in the second - which is called the spiritual or intelligent world - intelligent creature (intelligentia) can be found. In the last one ratio40 is situated, and it is the world of human being, the smaller world (microcosmos). This division of world - according to Laskoi - has been repeated by Cusanus in Book One of "Dc ludo globi" (On the Game of the World), saying: "The world is threefold; a small one, which is called human being, a larger one, which is called the universe, and the greatest, which is called God. The small one reflects the larger one, the larger one is similar to the largest one, although the largest one has no resemblance41 among the others, except of Himself. Evaluating Cusanus' conception, Csókás Laskoi writes the following: "Finally the threefold division seems to be acceptable, authentic and more appropriate for our doctrine, therefore we shall be guided by him, and neglecting the others."42 It is unquestionable that the conception of Laskoi - which is rather tending to Platonism, though he agrees with Cusanus, not obediently imitating Plato, because he himself thinks so, and hereby his renaissance attitude is dominated - that in human being, as smaller world (microscosmos), both from the material and spiritual points of view can be found all the attributes of the macrocosmos, as the larger medium appellat: pucpÓKoapov, parvum mundum hominem, cuius centrum dicit esse rationem seu mentem.” 40 Cp. LASK.AI. „De homine”. Gib. 1. cap. 1. p. 12. 41 Cp. LASKAI, „De homine”. Lib. I. cap. 1. pp. 11: 19. N. B. In the first chapter Laskoi quotes two times the work by Cusanus, titled as „De ludo globi” p. 11. „Mikrokozmos denique sive parvus mundus vocatur olim est a Philosophis omnium rerum creatarum epitome homo, qui a Cusano tom. 1. de ludo globi lib. I. parvus licet, perfectus tamen dicitur esse mundus, quod quae universum habet universaliter, habeat et homo particulariter proprie et discrete.” p. 19. „Hanc distinctionem mundi mutatis verbis repetit, tomo 1. „de ludo globi”, libro primo, ubi ait: Triplex est mundus: Parvus qui homo: maior qui universum dicitur: maximus qui Deus vocatur: Parvus est similitudo magni: Magnus similitudo maximi: Maximus nullam praeter seipsum in alio habet similitudinem.” 42 LASCOV1US, „De homine”. Lib. I. cap., 1. p. 19. „Ceterum cum triplex haec mundi distinctio religuis plausibilior esse, et ad institutum nostrum accommodatior videatur, eius considerationem in progressu nostrae tractationis, aliis neglectis persequamur.” That is Laskoi - examining and evaluating all the other aspects - neglects their conclusions and prefers to the conclusion drawn by Nicholas of Cusa.
