The concept of life in outer space has only officially become famous since the 20th century. Therefore, it can be said that Nicholas of Cusa was a thinker ahead of his time. He also became an inspiration for some of the world’s great astronomers and thinkers.

Since the 15th century, Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa has argued that aliens exist. (Photo via Locklip)

Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa (1401-1464) had many names: Nicolaus Cusanus, Nicholas of Kues, Nicolaus Krebs. He was a German philosopher, astronomer, theologian, and monk. He was not afraid to express views that were considered heretical in the Middle Ages. Not only did he oppose Aristotle’s view that the Earth was the center of the universe, but he also argued that aliens exist.

Nicholas of Cusa was a 15th-century priest. His challenging views did not sit well with the Vatican, but he eventually became a cardinal.

The first officially famous view of life in outer space was the Many Worlds Theory in the 20th century. Therefore, it can be said that Nicholas of Cusa was a thinker ahead of his time.

Nicholas of Cusa has a unique perspective on extraterrestrial life. In the book Learned Ignorance, pages 1439-1440, he wrote about aliens on other planets:

“Life, discovered on Earth in the form of humans, animals and plants. So let’s assume there is life in the Sun and other stars, but in a more advanced form. Instead of thinking that only Earth exists in the stars and other places in the Milky Way do not, or even if they do, they are only inferior entities compared to Earth, let’s try to assume On each planet there is life, different in nature according to hierarchy and all originate from God – the center and encompassing of the entire universe.

What we know about life on other planets is still very sketchy, so we cannot have accurate standards to evaluate them.

It can be surmised like this, there is life on the planet of the Sun and they are wise and bright inhabitants, more spiritual in nature than the inhabitants of the Moon – possibly quite wild – whereas the inhabitants of Earth are more crude and materialistic .

Portrait of Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa. (Picture via Wikipedia)

It seems that Nicholas of Cusa had difficulty determining the nature of these extraterrestrial beings. Maybe when he wrote that Earth’s inhabitants were weaker entities than other planets, he thought that humanity was inferior.

Many other times, he said humanity is superior. He gives the example that there is nothing more unique and perfect than our spiritual nature. Nicholas of Cusa was logically inconsistent as to whether he or we were the ignorant ones of the nature of the aliens.

One reason why Nicholas of Cusa believed that there were aliens was because he opposed Aristotle’s view that the Earth was the center of the universe. According to him, God is the center of the universe, not Earth.

“The universe is not circular, because if it had a center and a circle, then there would be some things lying on top of that circle, and so the assumptions wouldn’t be completely accurate.

Therefore, it is impossible to frame the universe into a visible circle and exist in a visible center. The circle and center of the universe is God, so it can be said that the universe is beyond our ability to understand. And although the universe is not infinite, it cannot be said to be finite, because the universe is not limited to any limit.

Tomb of Nicholas of Cusa. Church of S. Pietro in Vincoli, Rome. (Photo: Nick Thompson)

Since God is beyond the physical world, intelligent beings can exist anywhere. On other planets there may also exist animals, plants and other forms of intelligent entities.

The writings and views of Nicholas of Cusa were not abandoned. He became a source of inspiration for several great astronomers and thinkers such as Giordano Bruno in the 16th century and Tomaso Campanella in the 17th century.

Both René Descartes in the 17th century and French astronomer François Arago in the 19th century also praised Nicholas as a devout man who believed in the Many Worlds. Nicholas of Cusa is also mentioned by Christian Huygens, bishops John Wilkins and Francis Godwin, Otto von Guericke in the 17th century, Voltaire in the 18th century. They often mention him when talking about the class difference between aliens and humans.

Nicholas of Cusa supported the idea of ​​life on other worlds. Today, almost no one disputes this, but in his time, it was considered a heretical and challenging view.