A Theory of Five Substances in Marsilio Ficino’s Thought?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15448/1984-6746.2018.3.27892Keywords:
Renaissance, hypostasis, Plotinus, Proclus, FicinoAbstract
In this paper I explore the so-called theory of the five substances that has characterized the traditional interpretation of Ficino’s ontology since Kristeller published his book The philosophy of Marsilio Ficino. My point of departure is the first chapter of Book I of his Platonic Theology. I seek to demonstrate that it is not clear that the five hypostasis or degrees of reality can be identified with the term "substance" in Ficino’s text. From the comparison of this chapter with certain passages in his Parmenides’ Commentary, I propose that is more appropriate to describe only the first three hypostasis as "substances". Therefore, the traditional interpretation of Ficino's ontology is not accurate.Downloads
References
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