From the book
Marsilio Ficino’s Platonic Theology, Volume II
Marsilio Ficino · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordMembrum is an organic member.
- In the Platonic TheologyIf soul were located only in one organ, Ficino argues, it would be the form only of that member.
- In this editionThe facing English distinguishes “every portion” for life from “most” for motion and sensation.
- A place to readHouse, sinew, life and immanent operations supply different supports for organic unity.
Meaning
Membrum is an organic member. Congregatum denotes an aggregate gathered together, contrasted with a natural whole. Nervus can mean sinew or nerve in this bodily example; the translation chooses sinew. Conglutinare pictures binding together as with glue.
Use in the book
If soul were located only in one organ, Ficino argues, it would be the form only of that member. The other members would require other forms, leaving an aggregate comparable to a house assembled from walls rather than one natural organism. The contrast does not deny that a house is ordered; it distinguishes the kind of substantial unity claimed for an animal from artificial aggregation.
The pulling sinew then gives a different analogy. For the joints to contract together under one pull, one connecting sinew must be present throughout the relevant parts. Similarly, concord between animal members requires one soul uniting them. The inference is reinforced by life in even tiny bodily portions and motion and sensation in most. These are said to be operations inward to the agent and impossible without its substance. Ficino therefore moves from immanent local effects to the soul’s presence there, not merely from visible proximity between organs to psychic unity. The distinction between all parts alive and most parts sensing must remain intact.
Places to read
Translation in this edition
The facing English distinguishes “every portion” for life from “most” for motion and sensation. Nervus should not be silently modernized into a detailed neurological mechanism. The house and sinew are analogies with separate causal roles, not a single extended image.
actio intima
actio intima. Printed forms: Vis actioque agenti alicui intima.
A power and action inward to an agent. Such an operation is taken to require the agent’s substance there, linking local life to soul’s presence. References: VI.9.3. See Members, house and sinew.
congregatum; domus; paries
congregatum; domus; paries. Printed forms: congregatum; domus; parietibus.
Aggregate, house and walls. If each member had a different form, the result would resemble an artificial assembly rather than one natural organism. References: VI.9.3. See Members, house and sinew.
consensio; concordia; conglutinare
consensio; concordia; conglutinare. Printed forms: conglutinentur; consensio et concordia.
Mutual coordination and agreement; being bound together. The concord of diverse members supports one soul present throughout rather than a form confined to one organ. References: VI.9.3. See Members, house and sinew.
nervus; articulus; tractus
nervus; articulus; tractus. Printed forms: articuli; contrahuntur; nervi; tractum.
Sinew, joint and pull; contraction. The same sinew through the joints illustrates common movement requiring one connecting principle. References: VI.9.3. See Members, house and sinew.
portiuncula; plurimi
portiuncula; plurimi. Printed forms: in plurimis; portiuncula.
A small bodily portion; in most parts. Life is asserted in every tiny portion, but movement and sensation only in most, a qualification easily lost in summary. References: VI.9.3. See Members, house and sinew.