Grouped into three sections, they cover such topics as priesthood, the influence of hermetic monism, plotinus and. Another letter to prenninger gives an insight into ficinos activities in this period. A rare and scarce 16th century edition of the complete works of plato, as translated by marsilio ficino. Selected letters of marsilio ficino, and marsilio ficino. Another letter to prenninger gives an insight into ficino s activities in this period. Marsilio ficinos commentary on the fatal number in book viii of platos republic 1994. Republic book vi and hinted at it a few times elsewhere,14 his successors. Marsilio ficino books list of books by author marsilio. Late in his career, ficino wrote a commentary on the intractable passage in book viii of platos republic that concerns the mysterious geometric or fatal number. Marsilio ficino books list of books by author marsilio ficino. Marsilio ficinos commentary on the fatal number in book viii of platos republic, berkeley.
Philebus is represented as maintaining that pleasure is the good, while socrates contends that wisdom, right opinion, and right reasoning are. The philebus commentary, 2000 online research library. An interesting account is given in the philebus of the rank and order of the sciences or arts, which agrees generally with the scheme of knowledge in the sixth book of the republic. Marsilio ficinos commentary on the fatal number in book viii of platos republic. Ficinos essay takes the form of a commentary on book 8 of the republic, which he first published along with others in 1496 no earlier manuscript is extant. Marsilio ficino, the philebus commentary philpapers. Search for library items search for lists search for. As that decade wore on ficino authored commentaries on and summaries of platos writings, many of which he continued to work on for the rest of his career. The works of plato divini platonis opera omnia marsilio. The commentary grew out of the lectures on platos dialogue that ficino delivered in the church of s. The commentary of marsilio ficino, the florentine, on platos philebus on the highest good material that has been hastily collected from marsilio ficino s lectures on the philebus 70 appendices 441. Ficinos translation was a landmark publication during the renaissance, being a foundation text for philosophical works at the time.
The philebus commentary by ficino, marsilio, 14331499. Philebus asks whether pleasure or wisdom is the good. The philebus commentary by marsilio ficino, michael j. The commentary of marsilio ficino, the florentine, on platos philebus on the highest good material that has been hastily collected from marsilio ficino s lectures on the philebus 70. In complement to the life of plato, the translators also have included in this volume giovanni corsis 1507 life of marsilio ficino. Necessarily the mathematical structures in the world. It has been described as ficinos philosophical masterpiece. Marsilio ficino stanford encyclopedia of philosophy.
Marsilio ficino and the phaedran charioteer by marsilio ficino. The chief difference is, that the position of the arts is more exactly. Marsilio ficinos commentary on the fatal number in book. The latest of michael allens distinguished studies of the renaissance neoplatonist, marsilio ficino 14331499, presents a difficult, fascinating text. Republic book vi and hinted at it a few times elsewhere,14 his successors, culminating with plotinus, identified the good with the absolute one. When discussing the limit in his philebus commentary, ficino interposes a kind of prime matter. Allen university of california press the philebus commentary has received some notice from modern scholars. Philebus, who advocates the life of physical pleasure, hardly participates, and his position is instead defended by protarchus, who learnt. Kahleaustin foundation contributor internet archive language english. Latin title alternate script none author alternate script none. Linked bibliography for the sep article marsilio ficino by. This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book.
Late in his career, ficino wrote a commentary on the intractable passage in book viii of platos republic that concerns the. Hardcover out of print marsilio ficino nuptial arithmetic. See all books authored by marsilio ficino, including meditations on the soul. Giuseppe saitta talks of the extremely beautiful commentary on the philebus in which the superiority of the good over the beautiful. His books include the platonism of marsilio ficino 1984, icastes 1989, nuptial arithmetic 1994, platos third eye 1995 and synoptic art 1998. Linked bibliography for the sep article marsilio ficino. Ficino wrote it between 1469 and 1474 and it was published in 1482. This translation by dorothea frede of platos dialogue on the nature of pleasure and its relation to thought and knowledge achieves a high standard of readability.
In their perplexity, many deepthinking people sought the advice of marsilio ficino 143399, the leader of the platonic academy in florence, a magnet for the most brilliant scholars of 15thcentury europe. Valery rees, ma cantab has been a member of the translation team working on ficino s letters at the school of economic science, london since 1975 and is currently researching ficino s. Ficino is notable, as he was among the first generation of renaissance and early modern philosophers with direct access to the text of on the nature of things, and he was the first fifteenthcentury philosopher to compose a commentary on it, even if. Ficino is notable, as he was among the first generation of renaissance and early modern philosophers with direct access to the text of on the nature of things, and he was the first fifteenthcentury philosopher to compose a commentary on it, even if the text of the commentary itself is no longer extant. He was an astrologer, a reviver of neoplatonism in touch with the major academics of his day and the first translator of platos complete. Ficino authored commentaries on and summaries of platos writings, many of which he continued to work on for the rest of his career. The philebus commentary volume 226 medieval and renaissance texts and studies by michael j. Philebus, who advocates the life of physical pleasure, hardly participates, and his position is instead defended by protarchus, who learnt argumentation from sophists. Ficinos epistolary expansion on joy sometimes conformed to its intellectualist interpretation, as in his commentary on philebus, where it was the joy of the intelligence in the contemplation of the truth. One, the longest in this volume, consists mainly of extracts selected by ficino from his translation of proclus commentaries on platos republic. Marsilio ficinos commentary on the fatal number in book viii of platos republic 1994 platos third eye.
It therefore postdates the plato editions of 1484 and 1491 and represents a renewed attempt by ficino late in his life to come to grips with the value of platos geometric number. University of california press, 1975 ocolc651909087. The problems that taxed the minds of people during the renaissance were much the same as those confronting us today. The philebus commentary 1975 marsilio ficino and the phaedran charioteer 1981 the platonism of marsilio ficino 1984 icastes. Marsilio ficino project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. In support of the book on life 20 marsilio ficino to francesco soderini, bishop of volterra. Necessarily the mathematical structures in the world were part of the. Marsilio ficino as a beginning student of plato persee.
Part one study 1 ficinos commentary on the eighth book of the republic ultima cumaei venit iam carminis aetas in the notable nineteenth expostulation in his devotions, john donne refers to god as a metaphorical god. Isbn 0520081439 ernst cassirer, paul oskar kristeller, john herman randall, jr. The philebus commentary volume 226 medieval and renaissance texts and studies 9780866982689. This volume consists of 21 essays on marsilio ficino 143399, the great florentine scholar, philosopher and priest who was the architect of renaissance platonism and whose longlasting influence on philosophy, love and music theory, medicine and magic extended across europe. The commentary of marsilio ficino, the florentine, on platos philebus on the highest good material that has been hastily collected from marsilio ficinos lectures on the philebus 70.
Marsilio ficinos interpretation of platos sophist 1989 nuptial arithmetic. Project muse marsilio ficinos critique of the lucretian. The first edition included ficino s short descriptions or summaries of what he considered the key arguments of the dialogues. Socrates proposes there are higher pleasures such as those of the mind as well as lower ones, and asks if the best life isnt one that optimally mixes both. Ficino, marsilio internet encyclopedia of philosophy.
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