Augustine and Christian proximity · Lexicon

From the book

Marsilio Ficino’s Platonic Theology, Volume I

Marsilio Ficino · Diotimos Editions · 2026

Orientation

At a Glance

The wordAureliana is an adjective referring back to Aurelius Augustine in the preceding unit.
In the Platonic TheologyFicino invokes Augustine as warrant for treating Plato as the philosopher nearest Christian truth and as a model to imitate.
In this edition“Augustine’s authority” correctly resolves the compressed Aureliana auctoritate.
A place to readAugustine’s reported judgement and its “few changes” qualification

Meaning

Aureliana is an adjective referring back to Aurelius Augustine in the preceding unit. Proximus and simillimus indicate nearness and very close likeness; neither means identity. Mutatis paucis means “with a few things changed,” leaving a qualification within the reported judgement.

Use in the book

Ficino invokes Augustine as warrant for treating Plato as the philosopher nearest Christian truth and as a model to imitate. He then describes his own undertaking as fashioning a likeness of Plato as close as possible to that truth. The movement from proximus to simillimum is consequential: the first is a judgement attributed to Augustine; the second identifies Ficino’s constructive aim. The Proem does not merely claim to reproduce Plato without mediation. Nor does the phrase about changing a few things enumerate the changes or establish that every Platonic doctrine has been accepted. Ficino’s final submission to divine law gives the project a stated standard of approval.

Places to read

Proem.6Augustine’s reported judgement and its “few changes” qualification
Proem.7Ficino relies on that authority in constructing his likeness of Plato
Proem.10The resulting work is expressly subjected to divine law

Translation in this edition

“Augustine’s authority” correctly resolves the compressed Aureliana auctoritate. “A certain likeness” preserves simulacrum quoddam: the noun need not mean a deceptive counterfeit in this passage. This article explains Ficino’s report; it does not claim independent verification of Augustine’s wording or its original location.

Aurelius Augustinus / Aurelianus

Aurelius Augustinus / Aurelianus. Printed forms: Aureliana; Aurelius Augustinus.

Augustine, with an adjective referring back to his authority. Ficino invokes his reported approval of Plato’s proximity to Christian truth; the compressed adjective does not name a different authority. References: Proem.6, Proem.7. See Augustine and Christian proximity.

fretus / adductus

fretus / adductus. Printed forms: adductus; fretus.

Relying upon something; moved or led by something. Augustine’s authority and charity toward humanity are the two expressed motives for Ficino’s project, not separately demonstrated causes of its correctness. References: Proem.7. See Augustine and Christian proximity.

imitor / exprimo

imitor / exprimo. Printed forms: exprimere; imitandum; imitati.

To imitate and to fashion an expressed likeness. Augustine’s reported selection of Plato for imitation supports Ficino’s own constructive likeness, with Christian truth as the stated criterion. References: Proem.6, Proem.7, Proem.10. See Augustine and Christian proximity.

mutatis paucis

mutatis paucis. Printed forms: mutatis paucis.

“With a few things changed,” a qualifying ablative phrase. The reported possibility of Platonists becoming Christians is qualified rather than unconditional, and the passage does not enumerate the changes. References: Proem.6. See Augustine and Christian proximity.

proximus / simillimus

proximus / simillimus. Printed forms: proximum; simillimum.

Nearest and very like, distinct from identity. Augustine’s reported ranking of Plato is followed by Ficino’s own aim to fashion a likeness close to Christian truth. References: Proem.6, Proem.7. See Augustine and Christian proximity.