Dieu est une sphère

By Edit Anna Lukács

Book Description

In medieval times, spiritual seekers and theologians grappled with profound questions about the nature of the divine through vivid metaphors and imagery. Among these symbolic representations, one particular image captured imaginations across centuries: God conceived as a sphere whose center exists everywhere while its circumference remains nowhere.

Edit Anna Lukács invites readers into this fascinating exploration of thirteenth-century spiritual thought, tracing how this enigmatic metaphor wove through the literary, theological, and scientific discourse of the era. The journey encompasses diverse voices, from the poetic works of Jean de Meun to the theological insights of Alain de Lille and the encyclopedic knowledge of Vincent de Beauvais, revealing how both Latin scholars and vernacular writers engaged with this mystical concept.

This scholarly investigation delves into the ancient philosophical roots of the sphere metaphor while examining its connections to rhetoric, concepts of nature, and humanity's evolving understanding of infinity. Through careful analysis of lesser-known texts, including French translations and summaries of medieval works, the author reveals the rich complexity underlying this seemingly simple image.

Rather than presenting a linear progression of ideas, this work celebrates the irreducible richness of medieval spiritual imagination. For contemporary readers seeking to understand how our ancestors conceived of the divine presence, this book offers valuable insights into the sophisticated metaphysical thinking that shaped medieval spirituality and continues to resonate with seekers today.