SOURCE: Gómez, Luis Martínez. “From the Names of God to the Name of God: Nicholas of Cusa.” International Philosophical Quarterly 5, no. 1 (February 1965): 80-102.

In the following essay, Gómez reviews Cusanus's efforts to find or create an accurate name for God, tracing his progress from De Docta Ignorantia through the last years of his life.

If they should say to me: What is his name? what shall I say to them? God said to Moses: I am Who Am.

Ex. 3: 13-14.

The Theory of the Names of God

The Middle Ages had no problem about God. This has been affirmed and denied time and again, and, as usual, there is much to be said on both sides. If the problem is posed in modern terms that is, starting from doubt or question as to belief in God, it must be judged alien to the great Western...