Aristotle, Avicenna and counting minds · Lexicon

From the book

Marsilio Ficino’s Platonic Theology, Volume I

Marsilio Ficino · Diotimos Editions · 2026

Orientation

At a Glance

The wordNumerare or dinumerare counts; computare calculates.
In the Platonic TheologyFicino reports Aristotle’s reasoning from diverse, orderly, enduring celestial motions to unmoved minds, then notes that the number was calculated probably.
In this editionI.5.21 should be read with I.5.20, not as a complete independent proof.
A place to readAristotle’s mover argument, later naming, Avicenna’s differing numerical indications and probable calculation

Meaning

Numerare or dinumerare counts; computare calculates. Probabilis marks the offered reasoning’s status. Se dimittere here concerns deferring to others, as the translation makes explicit. “Angels” and “messengers” are introduced as later names for the separate minds, not presented as Aristotle’s own terminology.

Use in the book

Ficino reports Aristotle’s reasoning from diverse, orderly, enduring celestial motions to unmoved minds, then notes that the number was calculated probably. Avicenna is said in one place to posit at least ten principal minds, while seeming elsewhere to indicate more. Ficino then reads the deference to wiser judges as suggesting that minds should perhaps be counted by their proper activity, understanding, rather than their common and secondary task of moving bodies. The repeated forte marks this reconstruction as tentative. It supports his own claim that many minds may have no assigned moving task and that intellectual species exceed bodily ones. The passage distinguishes a minimum number derived from motions from the total abundance of minds.

Places to read

I.5.20Aristotle’s mover argument, later naming, Avicenna’s differing numerical indications and probable calculation
I.5.21–222A short editorial unit continues the preceding sentence; Ficino interprets its deference conjecturally
I.5.23–262 3 4Ficino supplies further arguments for intellectual abundance

Translation in this edition

I.5.21 should be read with I.5.20, not as a complete independent proof. The designation “Book XI of his work on divine things” reproduces Ficino’s reference system; this article does not silently replace it with a modern book number. “Principal” qualifies the minds said to be no fewer than ten.

Avicenna

Avicenna. Printed forms: Avicenna.

The named authority for a numerical indication of principal minds. Ficino reports at least ten in one place and a seeming suggestion of many more elsewhere, keeping the principal subset distinct from a total count. References: I.5.20. See Aristotle, Avicenna and counting minds.

infinite and almost countless

infinite and almost countless. Printed forms: paene innumeros; quasi innumeras.

Almost or virtually innumerable. These qualifications describe angelic abundance without simply asserting a completed actually infinite census. References: I.5.23. See Aristotle, Avicenna and counting minds.

probabilis / computo

probabilis / computo. Printed forms: computavisse; probabili.

Probable, and to calculate. Aristotle’s reported number of movers is explicitly calculated by probable reasoning, which motivates deference rather than a dogmatic final census. References: I.5.20. See Aristotle, Avicenna and counting minds.

proprius / communis / posterior

proprius / communis / posterior. Printed forms: communem; posteriorem; propriam.

Proper or characteristic, shared, and subsequent. Understanding is the principal activity of minds; moving bodies is a common and secondary activity and need not characterize every mind. References: I.5.22. See Aristotle, Avicenna and counting minds.

sapientioribus se dimittere

sapientioribus se dimittere. Printed forms: sapientioribus se dimittere.

To defer to those who are wiser, as rendered here. This short editorial unit continues the preceding report about Aristotle’s calculation and should be read across the unit break. References: I.5.21. See Aristotle, Avicenna and counting minds.