From the book
Marsilio Ficino’s Platonic Theology, Volume I
Marsilio Ficino · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordAeneus means made of bronze or copper alloy.
- In the Platonic TheologyArchimedes' revolving bronze spheres enter as a hypothetical alternative explanation: suppose the heavens move by a certain arrangement as those spheres once did.
- In this edition“A certain temperament” keeps the abstract temperatione quadam.
- A place to readthe bronze spheres provide a hypothetical model of heavenly movement
Meaning
Aeneus means made of bronze or copper alloy. Temperatio is an arrangement, balanced constitution, or temperament; the context determines how physical or technical the term is. Aequabilis means even or uniform, not necessarily numerically equal to another thing.
Use in the book
Archimedes' revolving bronze spheres enter as a hypothetical alternative explanation: suppose the heavens move by a certain arrangement as those spheres once did. Ficino's reply does not provide a mechanical description of the device. It insists that the heavenly arrangement must be at least as substantial, living, and rational as the constitution that moves earthly animals' limbs, since heaven is nearer first substance, life, and reason and more uniform in nature and motion. The example is therefore absorbed into his hierarchical argument rather than establishing autonomous machinery as the sufficient cosmic cause.
The next question asks whether this living principle is an angel and rejects that identification. Celestial life accompanies its body in a certain manner, while angelic mind is unmoved. “Temperament” consequently does not end the inquiry; the relation of the proposed principle to living soul and superior mind remains to be specified.
Places to read
- IV.1.63the bronze spheres provide a hypothetical model of heavenly movement
- IV.1.64–67234the immediate moving principle is distinguished from angel and identified as soul
Translation in this edition
“A certain temperament” keeps the abstract temperatione quadam. The source supplies neither construction details nor a claim that Archimedes' device had a soul. The living and rational conclusion concerns the heavenly arrangement within Ficino's reply.
Archimedes / aeneus
Archimedes / aeneus. Printed forms: aeneae; Archimedis.
The named maker and his bronze spheres. A hypothetical comparison with their arrangement is answered by arguing for a living rational principle in the heavens. References: IV.1.63. See Archimedes and the bronze spheres.
temperatio / aequabilis
temperatio / aequabilis. Printed forms: aequabilior; temperatio; temperatione.
An ordered constitution; more uniform. The argument compares heavenly arrangement with the constitution moving animal limbs, without describing the bronze device's mechanics. References: IV.1.63. See Archimedes and the bronze spheres.