Markus L Fuehrer
Professor
fuehrer@augsburg.edu

Professor Markus Fuehrer's main area of research is focused on medieval philosophy. At the present time he is working on preparing a critical Latin edition of the medieval philosopher and theologian Henry of Ghent’s “Summa Quaestionum Ordinariarum” in cooperation with the University of Leuven, Belgium. He is also working on the history of the use of dialogue form in medieval philosophy.

“As a professor I focus on the teaching of medieval philosophy along with ethics and introduction to philosophy. I, as other members of the department, believe that it is important in the education of students of philosophy to work closely in the tutorial mode as much as possible. Therefore, I offer tutorial independent studies to students who have interests along my own lines.”

Professor Fuehrer has taught at Augsburg since 1971. His others areas of interest, outside of philosophy, include: the reading of German literature, particularly the poet Goethe; classical music; chess; literature in general; medieval history; and the study of paleography.

Publications

1. Translation of Nicholas of Cusa's  Idiota de sapientia et mente  with Commentary and Notes. (Published by Centre for Reformation and Renaissance Studies, Victoria University, 1989).
2. "The Principle of Contractio  in Nicholas of Cusa's Philosophical View of Man," The Downside Review, Vol. 93, Oct. 1975, pp. 289 - 296.
3. "Wisdom and Eloquence in Nicholas of Cusa's Idiota de sapientia et de mente," Vivarium, Vol. 7, 1978, pp. 142 - 155.
4. "The Principle of Similitude in Hugh of St. Victor's Theory of Divine Illumination," The American Benedictine Review, Vol. 30, March 1979, pp. 80 - 92.
5. "Purgation, Illumination and Perfection in Nicholas of Cusa," The Downside Review, Vol. 98, July 1980, pp. 169 - 189.
6. The Cosmological Implications of the Psychomachia in Alan of Lille's Anticlaudianus ," Studies in Philology, Vol. 77, Fall 1980, pp. 344 - 353.
7. The Evolution of the Quadrivial Modes of Theology in Nicholas of Cusa's Analysis of the Soul," The American Benedictine Review, Vol. 36, Sept. 1985, pp. 325 - 342.
8. "Ulrich of Strassbourg and Nicholas of Cusa's Theory of Mind," Classica et Mediaevalia, Vol. 36, 1985, pp. 225 - 239.
9. "The Metaphysics of Light in the De Dato Patris Luminum  of Nicholas of Cusa," International Studies in Philosophy, Vol. 18, 1986, pp. 17 - 32.
10. "The Contemplative Function of the Agent Intellect in the Psychology of Albert the Great,"  in Festschrift für Kurt Flasch, ed. B. Mojsisch and O. Pluta (Amsterdam, 1989)
11. "The Theory of Intellect in Albert the Great and its Influence on Nicholas of Cusa," in Nicholas of Cusa In Search of God and Wisdom ed. G. Christianson & T. Izbicki (Brill: Leiden, 1991).
12. Dietrich of Freiberg, On the Intellect and the Intelligible, Transl. and Commentary by M. Führer (Marquette U. Press, 1992).
13. "The Consolation of Contemplation in Cusanus' De visione Dei" Medioevo  vol. 20,1994, pp. 205-231.
14. Contributing author of Nicholas of Cusa on Christ and the Church (Brill Publs.:  Leiden,1996).
15. "The Agent Intellect in the Writings of Meister Dietrich of Freiberg and its Influence on the Cologne School,"  (Proceedings of Dietrich von Freiberg Symposion,  Freiberg, Germany, 1999).
16. "Henry of Ghent's Doctrine of the Superiority of the Will over the Intellect and the Paradox of Self Deception" (Presented at the University of Louvain, 2000).
17. "Conjunction of the Intellect: Averroes and Dietrich of Freiberg" (forthcoming, Proceedings of Dietrich von Freiberg Symposion,  Freiberg, Germany).
18. A History of the Metaphysics and Epistemology of Light in the Middle Ages 2vols. In progress.
19. "Albertus Magnus' Theory of Divine Illumination" in Albertus Magnus: Zum Gedenken nach 800 Jahren, Berlin, 2001.
20. "Cusanus Platonicus" in The Platonic Tradition in the Middle Ages, (Berlin, 2002)
21. "Dietrich of Freiberg" in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
22. "Albertus Magnus" in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
23. “Cusanus’ Platonism” in A Companion to Nicholas of Cusa (Brill, forthcoming).
24. “Lemma on the Relation of Isaac of Stella and Saint Augustine” in The Oxford Guide to the Historical Reception of Augustine (Oxford University Press, forthcoming -summer 2008).
25. “Albertus Magnus and Mystical Epistemology” in A Companion to Albert the Great (Brill, forthcoming, sping 2008).
26. Critical edition of Henry of Ghent, Summa Quaestiones ordinariae, art. 47-52 (Leuven University Press, 2007).

Honors and Awards:

• N.E.H. Fellow, University of Penn. Summer 1978.
• Grant for manuscript reseach on the Albertist School, American Philosophical Society, 1980.
• Grant for research on Mechthild of Magdeburg, Bush Foundation, 1984 - 1985.
• Faculty development grant to do research on David of Augsburg, American Lutheran Church, Summer of 1986.
• "Nicholas of Cusa's Use of the Medieval Quadrivium" research paper read at the Fifteenth Century Symposium sponsored by the University of Regensburg, West Germany, August 1982.
• Charter member and national secretary (1979-82) of American Cusanus Society.
• Fulbright Fellow, Universiteit Leuven, Institute for Medieval Philosophy, 1994.
• Fellow of the Trethemius Institute, Berlin, 2007