Light, Mirror, Perspective. Systematic and metaphoric Aspects of Expression in the Works of N. Cusanus, G. Bruno and G. W. Leibniz

本研究的目的是通过选择思想史上的核心时刻，并考虑与表达领域相关的隐喻，来研究从中世纪晚期到现代早期的表达问题。该项目旨在描绘表达概念以及在研究期间形成的表达概念的不同层面，并突出这一背景下表达关系的表现形式和行动模式。研究的重点集中在N·库萨努斯、G·布鲁诺和G·W·莱布尼茨的作品中，其中的三个主要隐喻--光、镜子和透视--具有特殊的作用。这些隐喻是在它们与当时的艺术(包括艺术理论)和数学的关系的背景下被看待的，目的是对这个领域的基本方面进行系统的历史重建，尽管该领域具有多方面的丰富性，但在很大程度上仍未被探索。本研究项目的主要目的是通过三个方面的方法来解决：1.关于镜子、光和透视的隐喻；2.考虑形而上学、数学和艺术史上的相关时刻；3.以N·库萨纳斯、G·布鲁诺和G·W·莱布尼茨的著作为框架，其中不仅可以找到这三个隐喻，而且还可以找到这三个学科之间的关系。在这三个学科的历史中，这三条路径被系统地纠缠在一起：光、镜子和透视的隐喻在三位作者的哲学作品中因其象征性内容而受到质疑；b)在当时已知的光学框架中被视为数学装置；以及c)被视为时代绘画的主题。这样就获得了必要的要素，以便能够勾勒出早期现代表达和表达关系的概念，使人们能够充分了解整个问题及其不同的层面。

The purpose of this research project is to investigate the problem of expression from the late Middle Ages to the early modern period, by focusing on a selection of central moments in the history of ideas and by taking into consideration metaphors related with the field of expression. The project aims to sculpt a portrait of the concept of expression and the different dimensions of the concept that were developed during the period under study and also to highlight manifestations and modes of action of expressive relations within this context. The main focus of the research lies on the works of N. Cusanus, G. Bruno and G.W. Leibniz, where the three leading metaphors–light, mirror and perspective–have a special role. These metaphors are looked at in the context of their relations to the art (including art theory) and mathematics of their time, with a view to producing a systematic historical reconstruction of essential aspects of a field that still remains largely unexplored despite its multi-faceted richness. The main aim of this research project is tackled through an approach that is tripartite in three senses: 1. regarding the metaphors of mirror, light and perspective; 2. considering relevant moments of the history of metaphysics, mathematics and art; and 3. taking as a framework the writings of N. Cusanus, G. Bruno und G.W. Leibniz, where one can find not only all three metaphors, but also relationships among all three disciplines. A systematic entanglement of these triple paths is sought within the history of the three disciplines: The metaphors of light, mirror and perspective are a) questioned for their symbolic content in the framework of the philosophical works of the three authors; b) regarded as mathematical devices in the framework of optics as known at the time; and lastly c) considered as motifs for period paintings. The requisite elements are thus acquired so that a concept of early modern expression and expressive relations can be outlined, enabling an adequate understanding of the overall problem and its different dimensions.