Beginning and ceasing · Lexicon

From the book

Marsilio Ficino’s Platonic Theology, Volume I

Marsilio Ficino · Diotimos Editions · 2026

Orientation

At a Glance

The wordIncipere is to begin, desinere to cease, nasci to arise or be born, and resolvi to be dissolved or resolved into constituents.
In the Platonic TheologyThe eternity argument asks whether truth can begin or end.
In this editionKeep the English future-in-the-past “would begin” and perfect “had ceased” distinct.
A place to readNew production and continuing production are alternative cases

Meaning

Incipere is to begin, desinere to cease, nasci to arise or be born, and resolvi to be dissolved or resolved into constituents. Aliquando means at some time; nuper indicates a new or recent production in its local alternative. These temporal expressions must be separated from explanatory priority.

Use in the book

The eternity argument asks whether truth can begin or end. Before its supposed beginning, Ficino says, it would already be true that it was going to begin; after its supposed end, it would still be true that it had ended. The tense shifts carry the argument. He also reasons that what arises comes from something prior, and what is dissolved resolves into something more ancient, so the first principle cannot have either fate.

The world’s temporal origin remains a separate question in the preservation argument. Whether it always existed or began at some time, it depends continually on God. Similarly, II.4.6 offers production anew from nothing alongside continual production without a prior subject. These alternatives do not authorize reading every use of “first” as an earliest instant.

Places to read

II.4.6New production and continuing production are alternative cases
II.5.1Future and past truth frame the impossible beginning or ceasing of truth
II.7.18, II.7.19Preservation is required whether the world began or always existed

Translation in this edition

Keep the English future-in-the-past “would begin” and perfect “had ceased” distinct. Their temporal relations matter to the proof; the labels “creation” and “eternity” alone do not display it.

initium / incipere / desinere

initium / incipere / desinere. Printed forms: desinere; desivisse; incepisse; incepit; incepturam; incipere; inciperet; initium.

Beginning and ceasing, distinct from natural or causal priority. Truth’s supposed temporal limits presuppose truth before and after them; prior choices cannot regress indefinitely. References: II.5.1, II.7.18, II.8.3. See Beginning and ceasing.

nuper / semel / diuturnior / perpetuo / generatio / successio

nuper / semel / diuturnior / perpetuo / generatio / successio. Printed forms: diuturnior; nuper; semel; successio.

Newness, once-only occurrence, prolonged duration, and succession. The preservation argument contrasts one past origin with continual dependence and distinguishes indefinite sequence from stable eternity. References: II.4.6, II.5.1, II.7.23, II.10.3. See Beginning and ceasing.