2006/02/27 by David Finkelstein, Finkelstein, David Ritz
Arts and Humanities · Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Architecture and Art History Studies #FOS: Physical sciences #Historical Astronomy and Related Studies #History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph) #History and Theory of Mathematics
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.physics/0602185
openalex publication_date 2006/02/27 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Duerer's engraving ``MELENCOLIA I'' was circulated in two versions not previously distinguished. Besides their conspicuous early Renaissance scientific instruments and tools, they contain numerous apparently unreported concealments whose detection reveals heresies expressed in the work. The main one is encoded in the motto \em MELENCOLIA I itself: Natural Philosophy, not Mathematical Philosophy or Theological Philosophy, is the way to knowledge. Unusual optical illusions and subliminal images, differing between the two versions, declare the relativity and ambiguity of perception, and indicate that the work was a Humanist document intended for a Humanist viewership.