Dispersion and concentration

Use in the book

Ficino’s initial case against bulk turns on a trade-off. Concentrating bodily parts strengthens their united power but increases thickness, making penetration more difficult; rarefaction facilitates movement and penetration but disperses power. Body therefore cannot, in his model, fully satisfy all conditions of perfect action at once. Concentrated heat illustrates why force follows quality rather than mere size. The “point” marks maximum concentration in the comparison, not a claim that a geometrical point is a miniature flame. Later the language becomes temporal: the soul’s life is drawn away from itself across successive acts, unlike angelic life, which is wholly together. Spatial scattering and temporal succession are analogous limitations, but remain distinct.

Places to read

1. I.2.2–423Compression, rarefaction, separation of agent and patient, and delay enter the trade-off
2. I.2.11Heat concentrated into a point explains greater burning power
3. I.2.17Dispersion weakens quality; contraction emphasizes its non-bodily source
4. I.5.2A life dispersed through time is contrasted with a life wholly united at once

Translation in this edition

“Dispersed,” “drawn apart,” “compressed,” and “rarefies” preserve an argument with several different operations. “Quantity” should not be treated as a modern measurement of energy; the natural examples belong to Ficino’s theory of efficacy.

coarcto / rarefacio

coarcto / rarefacio. Printed forms: coarctet; rarefaciat.

To compress and to rarefy. Compression strengthens united power but obstructs entry; rarefaction aids motion but disperses power. The paired operations expose the trade-off. References: I.2.2. See Dispersion and concentration.

dispergo / distractio

dispergo / distractio. Printed forms: dispergit; dispersa; dispersione; distracta.

Scattering or drawing apart. Separated parts dilute active power; the related temporal description of soul’s life is analogical rather than literal bodily division. References: I.2.2, I.2.17, I.5.2. See Dispersion and concentration.

in angustum / ad punctum

in angustum / ad punctum. Printed forms: ad punctum; in angustum.

Into a narrow compass or to a point. Concentrated heat and quality illustrate heightened efficacy through union; the comparison should not be confused with an independent geometrical point generating heat. References: I.2.11, I.2.17. See Dispersion and concentration.

minuo / debilito

minuo / debilito. Printed forms: debilitat; debilitetur; minui; minuitur.

To diminish or weaken. Dispersion weakens bodily power; the proposed incorporeal substance cannot be diminished through partition, which supports its superiority. References: I.2.2, I.3.15, I.3.33. See Dispersion and concentration.

siccitas / humiditas

siccitas / humiditas. Printed forms: humiditas; siccitas.

Dryness and moisture as opposed bodily conditions. Ficino says dryness unites and strengthens heat or cold while moisture disperses and weakens; these are historical natural-philosophical assertions. References: I.2.2. See Dispersion and concentration.

unio / augeo

unio / augeo. Printed forms: auget; augetur; unione.

Union and increase. Ficino says power increases by union, yet concentrating a body also increases thickness, producing the action model’s trade-off. References: I.2.2. See Dispersion and concentration.