Earth, wood and severed stones · Lexicon

From the book

Marsilio Ficino’s Platonic Theology, Volume II

Marsilio Ficino · Diotimos Editions · 2026

Orientation

At a Glance

The wordSaxa are stones; ligna wood or logs.
In the Platonic TheologyThe opening nutrition argument uses logs and stones “torn from the earth” as bodies that do not grow like flourishing plants and animals.
In this editionThe apparatus reports that M1482’s authorial correction removes terrae from ab anima terrae at VI.8.7.
A place to readDetached wood and stones serve the distinction between mere corporeality and nourishment.

Meaning

Saxa are stones; ligna wood or logs. Affigi describes attachment to earth, avelli removal or tearing away. Unio is cohesion of parts, whereas augmentum is growth; the text distinguishes possession of the former from the latter.

Use in the book

The opening nutrition argument uses logs and stones “torn from the earth” as bodies that do not grow like flourishing plants and animals. Near the end of VI.8, the obvious challenge returns: if body needs an incorporeal binder, whence comes the cohesion of these nonliving examples? The Platonists’ reported answer is that while attached to earth they receive both unity and growth from soul, but once severed retain unity alone.

This distinction prevents two misleading summaries. Ficino does not simply infer that every detached stone lives and grows as an animal does; nor does he regard its continued cohesion as independent of the higher unifying power. The attachment and severance conditions belong to his historical cosmological account. They should not be rewritten as current geology or botany. The source’s final corrected wording is simply “from soul,” although the reference to earth makes a terrestrial context natural.

Places to read

VI.4.1, VI.4.5Detached wood and stones serve the distinction between mere corporeality and nourishment.
VI.8.7The Platonist reply differentiates unity surviving severance from growth while attached.

Translation in this edition

The apparatus reports that M1482’s authorial correction removes terrae from ab anima terrae at VI.8.7. The reading text therefore has ab anima, while G1559 and P1641 retain the longer wording. “Earth-soul” may describe the broader context, but should not be printed as the exact phrase in this unit.

ab anima

ab anima. Printed forms: ab anima.

From soul, with no following terrae in the corrected reading. The edition applies an authorial deletion; the terrestrial context does not license silently restoring the removed printed word. References: VI.8.7. See Earth, wood and severed stones.

affigere; avellere

affigere; avellere. Printed forms: affiguntur terrae; avulsa.

To be attached to earth and torn away. The reported Platonist account ties growth plus unity to attachment, while only unity persists after severance. References: VI.8.7. See Earth, wood and severed stones.

saxum; lignum

saxum; lignum. Printed forms: ligna; lignis aridis; saxa.

Stone and wood, particularly dry or severed materials. They share bodily matter with organisms but lack the same nourishment and growth when detached. References: VI.4.1, VI.4.3, VI.8.7. See Earth, wood and severed stones.

unio et augmentum

unio et augmentum. Printed forms: non augmentum amplius; unionem et augmentum.

Cohesion and growth, with growth denied after severance. The distinction prevents reading the account as saying every detached stone lives like an animal. References: VI.8.7. See Earth, wood and severed stones.