Coincidence ofopposites in the philosophy of Cusanus and modern paraconsistent logics

Abstract

The main topic of this article is a discussion against the thesis that Cusanus, with his teaching of concidentia oppositorum, is a precursor of Hegelian dialectics; namely, the latter has been recently revived in some paraconsistent logics as their philosophical and methodological basis; besides, in some seminal works on paraconsistency, Cusanus is included in the context of Hegelian dialectics. The author of this essay argues that such interpretation of Cusanus is too narrow, albeit not quite wrong. In every sensitive semantical analysis of Cusanus' philosophy, not only the positive synthesis of opposites have to be considered, but its negative side (truth-value gaps) as well. In the last part of the paper, some theological and christological issues of the discussed topics are outlined.