angels dancing on the head of a pin

English

Wikipedia

Etymology

An allusion to the theological question “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” — a question cited to debunk mediaeval angelology in particular and scholasticism in general. Since angels are non-corporeal and do not occupy space, an infinite number of them could be present at a single point in space simultaneously.

Noun

angels dancing on the head of a pin (uncountable)

1. (metaphor) The subject of arcane intellectual speculation; used as an example subject of enquiry the pursuit of which is of no value.
   • 1965: United States Congress House Government Operations, Procurement of a Cryogenic Cooling System for Fighter Aircraft: Hearing, 89-1, June 8–9, 1965, p47

     We are not talking about angels dancing on the head of a pin here.

   • 1995: Julian Lincoln Simon, The State of Humanity, p358

     …logically indistinguishable from the argument that because we do not know at what rate the angels dancing on the head of a pin are dying off…

   • 2001: William C. Gaventa & David L. Coulter, The Theological Voice of Wolf Wolfensberger, p6

     The issues Dr. Wolfensberger wrestles with and writes about are not intellectual discussions of angels dancing on the head of a pin.

Translations

arcane intellectual speculation

• French: sexe des anges (fr) m

See also

• angels-dancing-on-the-head-of-a-pin
• count angels on pinheads