Nicholas of Cusa and the Infinite Thomas J. McFarlane Nicholas of Cusa (1401-64) was a philosopher and theologian whose writings influenced the development of Renaissance mathematics and science. The first part of this podcast traces the historical development in the West of thought about the Infinite prior to the time of Nicholas of Cusa. The second part discusses his philosophy as presented in his major work, On Learned Ignorance. The third part of the podcast then examines the subsequent development of thought about the Infinite and the ways in which Nicholas of Cusa influenced mathematics and science.