Affect

Use in the book

Affect names an inclination or engagement through which cognition becomes effective, rather than merely a passing emotion or fondness. In II.11.31–3323, Ficino compares cognition in creatures to an image that produces no substantial effect without an affective movement. The movement appears more essential, and the force of its action corresponds to its strength. He extends this analogy to divine intelligence: divine will must possess an immensely powerful and delightful affective engagement. Affect is then connected with the beginning of generation in creatures and the origin of creation in God. His illustration of an ostrich gazing intently at its egg belongs to the passage's natural lore, not to an independently validated account of incubation.

In IV.2.15–18234, psychological affection connects the activities of souls to changing bodily and cosmic effects. Vigorous thought and affect are said to stir human spirits and humors; analogously, a varied succession of cosmic effects requires a varied succession of affections in the producing souls. A wholly stable cause considered by itself produces a stable work, while a moved soul mediates changing effects. This does not attribute human emotional disorders to celestial souls, whose administration is elsewhere described as orderly and unwearied. The comparison concerns directed psychic activity, its bodily consequences, and its succession.

The Latin families overlap, but their contexts matter. Affectus and the psychological uses of affectio here concern inclination and soul-condition. The more general passive modification designated by affectio and passio elsewhere is treated under Affection and passivity; not every affected thing feels an emotion.

Further passage references. II.11.31–3323; IV.2.15–IV.2.18234

Places to read

1. II.11.31–3323Affective engagement is presented as making cognition effective and as connecting will with pleasure and production.
2. IV.2.16Thought and affect are compared with changes in spirits and humours to explain successive cosmic effects.

Translation in this edition

“Affect” and “affection” require their context: the ostrich example describes a supposed connection between directed cognition and generation, not verified physiology. The language of changing celestial affections concerns successive directed activity rather than automatically attributing human emotional disorder to heaven.

affectus / afficere

affectus / afficere. Printed forms: affectum; afficit.

Affective engagement / affect or incline. The intensity of affect is linked to productive efficacy and then applied analogically to divine will. References: II.11.31, II.11.32. See Affect.

conatus / affectus

conatus / affectus. Printed forms: affectum; affectus; conatus.

Directed effort or inclination, not necessarily a passing emotion. Competing efforts would make rival gods mutable; mind’s affective range enters the reported presence theory. References: II.2.14, II.6.20, II.6.22. See Affect.

vibrare / affectio

vibrare / affectio. Printed forms: affectiones; vibrantur.

To be stirred or set in motion; psychic conditions. The bodily analogy uses human spirits and humors stirred by thought and affect to explain changing cosmic effects. References: IV.2.16. See Affect.