Marsilio Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies

The Place of Renaissance Humanism in the History of Philosophy Groningen, 13-15 June 2013 Marsilio Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies Zornitsa Radeva Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg i. Br. Overview 1 The background to the ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ The communis opinio: heavens not animated The soul vehicle: tradition and use in Ficino 2 Ficino’s ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ Celestial souls: mediators, endowed with imagination, between celestial bodies and angelic minds Celestial bodies and soul vehicles: the ideal receptacles of soul’s life-giving act 3 Conclusion: ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ and Christian eschatology 1. The background to the ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ 1.1 The communis opinio The communis opinio: heavens not animated Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 1/5 1. The background to the ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ 1.1 The communis opinio The communis opinio: heavens not animated celestial bodies: incorruptible, composed of Aristotle’s fifth element (ether) Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 1/5 1. The background to the ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ 1.1 The communis opinio The communis opinio: heavens not animated celestial bodies: incorruptible, composed of Aristotle’s fifth element (ether) celestial movers: separate intelligences/angels without sensitive or vegetative faculties Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 1/5 1. The background to the ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ 1.2 The soul vehicle The soul vehicle: tradition and use in Ficino Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 2/5 1. The background to the ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ 1.2 The soul vehicle The soul vehicle: tradition and use in Ficino soul vehicle in the astrological and medical traditions: quasi-material mediator between body and soul with nature similar to that of the heavens Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 2/5 1. The background to the ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ 1.2 The soul vehicle The soul vehicle: tradition and use in Ficino soul vehicle in the astrological and medical traditions: quasi-material mediator between body and soul with nature similar to that of the heavens soul vehicle in Ficino: Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 2/5 1. The background to the ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ 1.2 The soul vehicle The soul vehicle: tradition and use in Ficino soul vehicle in the astrological and medical traditions: quasi-material mediator between body and soul with nature similar to that of the heavens soul vehicle in Ficino: common legacy of the ancient sages, Plato and Aristotle Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 2/5 1. The background to the ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ 1.2 The soul vehicle The soul vehicle: tradition and use in Ficino soul vehicle in the astrological and medical traditions: quasi-material mediator between body and soul with nature similar to that of the heavens soul vehicle in Ficino: common legacy of the ancient sages, Plato and Aristotle natural recipient of soul’s essential life-giving act Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 2/5 1. The background to the ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ 1.2 The soul vehicle The soul vehicle: tradition and use in Ficino soul vehicle in the astrological and medical traditions: quasi-material mediator between body and soul with nature similar to that of the heavens soul vehicle in Ficino: common legacy of the ancient sages, Plato and Aristotle natural recipient of soul’s essential life-giving act use in the context of Christian eschatology Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 2/5 2. Ficino’s ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ 2.1 Celestial souls Celestial souls: mediators, endowed with imagination, between celestial bodies and angelic minds Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 3/5 2. Ficino’s ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ 2.1 Celestial souls Celestial souls: mediators, endowed with imagination, between celestial bodies and angelic minds celestial souls as middle entities between celestial bodies and angelic minds (Timaeus and Proclus) Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 3/5 2. Ficino’s ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ 2.1 Celestial souls Celestial souls: mediators, endowed with imagination, between celestial bodies and angelic minds celestial souls as middle entities between celestial bodies and angelic minds (Timaeus and Proclus) celestial souls moving their bodies with the help of imagination (Avicenna) Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 3/5 2. Ficino’s ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ 2.1 Celestial souls Celestial souls: mediators, endowed with imagination, between celestial bodies and angelic minds celestial souls as middle entities between celestial bodies and angelic minds (Timaeus and Proclus) celestial souls moving their bodies with the help of imagination (Avicenna) Platonic, Peripatetic and Christian tradition brought into accord Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 3/5 2. Ficino’s ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ 2.2 Celestial bodies Celestial bodies and soul vehicles: the ideal receptacles of soul’s life-giving act Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 4/5 2. Ficino’s ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ 2.2 Celestial bodies Celestial bodies and soul vehicles: the ideal receptacles of soul’s life-giving act celestial bodies and soul vehicles as quasi material middle entities between bodies and souls (Averroes in agreement with Proclus) Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 4/5 2. Ficino’s ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ 2.2 Celestial bodies Celestial bodies and soul vehicles: the ideal receptacles of soul’s life-giving act celestial bodies and soul vehicles as quasi material middle entities between bodies and souls (Averroes in agreement with Proclus) celestial bodies as ideal recipients of life on account of their proximity to soul Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 4/5 2. Ficino’s ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ 2.2 Celestial bodies Celestial bodies and soul vehicles: the ideal receptacles of soul’s life-giving act celestial bodies and soul vehicles as quasi material middle entities between bodies and souls (Averroes in agreement with Proclus) celestial bodies as ideal recipients of life on account of their proximity to soul the heavens as the corporeal manifestation of Paradise Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 4/5 3. Conclusion Conclusion: ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ and Christian eschatology Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 5/5 3. Conclusion Conclusion: ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ and Christian eschatology 1 systematic ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ with specific notions on both celestial souls and bodies meant to replace the existing Aristotelian one Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 5/5 3. Conclusion Conclusion: ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ and Christian eschatology 1 2 systematic ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ with specific notions on both celestial souls and bodies meant to replace the existing Aristotelian one two main principles regulating the ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 5/5 3. Conclusion Conclusion: ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ and Christian eschatology 1 2 systematic ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ with specific notions on both celestial souls and bodies meant to replace the existing Aristotelian one two main principles regulating the ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ Platonic dictum that every two extremes are connected through a mediator Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 5/5 3. Conclusion Conclusion: ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ and Christian eschatology 1 2 systematic ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ with specific notions on both celestial souls and bodies meant to replace the existing Aristotelian one two main principles regulating the ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ Platonic dictum that every two extremes are connected through a mediator harmony between Platonic, Peripatetic and Christian worldview (as a rhetorical strategy) Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 5/5 3. Conclusion Conclusion: ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ and Christian eschatology 1 2 systematic ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ with specific notions on both celestial souls and bodies meant to replace the existing Aristotelian one two main principles regulating the ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ Platonic dictum that every two extremes are connected through a mediator harmony between Platonic, Peripatetic and Christian worldview (as a rhetorical strategy) 3 ‘‘Platonic cosmology’’ as acceptable eschatology: transition between earthly and heavenly life made plausible Zornitsa Radeva Ficino on Heavenly Souls and Bodies 5/5 Thank you very much for your attention!