From the book
Stobaeus, Volume I
John Stobaeus · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Privation
στέρησις
sterēsisSterēsis is privation or lack.
Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordSterēsis is privation or lack.
- In StobaeusThe report names form, matter, and privation together, then separately discusses elements and their qualities.
- In this edition“Privation” preserves the technical distinction.
- A place to beginPrivation appears among principles, before a separate account of elements and qualities.
- English renderings
- privation; absence of form
Meaning
Sterēsis is privation or lack. In the list of Aristotelian principles it is distinguished from both the form and the matter that receives form.
Use in the book
The report names form, matter, and privation together, then separately discusses elements and their qualities. Privation is therefore not another material body or a fifth elemental quality. It expresses the absence involved in an account of coming to be, whereas matter names the underlying recipient and form the determination acquired.
Places to read
- I.10.16a.3Privation appears among principles, before a separate account of elements and qualities.
Translation in this edition
“Privation” preserves the technical distinction. An explanatory “absence of form” is useful where the term would otherwise be opaque.
Source note
Wachsmuth, volume I, printed pp. 128. The entry explains the compressed report; it does not replace its distinction between principles and elements with a single list.
From the book
Marsilio Ficino’s Platonic Theology, Volume I
Marsilio Ficino · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Possession and privation
habitus; privatio; defectus; carere; expers
Habitus may mean possession or a state; privatio a lack of what is opposed to such possession.
Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordHabitus may mean possession or a state; privatio a lack of what is opposed to such possession.
- In the Platonic TheologyIn the Ideas discussion, evil and privation are known through the idea of good and possession.
- In this editionThe translation distinguishes “possession,” “state,” and “settled skill” for habitus in these contexts.
- A place to readGood and possession provide intelligibility for evil and privation.
Meaning
Habitus may mean possession or a state; privatio a lack of what is opposed to such possession. Defectus is a deficiency. Carere and expers indicate lacking or being without. None of these expressions has one invariant psychological sense.
Use in the book
In the Ideas discussion, evil and privation are known through the idea of good and possession. The point concerns indirect intelligibility: knowing a positive determination can make its lack known, without requiring a separately productive idea of every defect. In the necessity argument, chance is called a privation or failure of reason. In the argument against divine change, past and future involve what no longer is and what is not yet; these are treated as privation incompatible with pure act. By contrast, a sphere departing from its present habitus leaves its present state or position, not a learned habit. The distinct sense of acting habitu in a perfected craft belongs to acquired skill. Keeping these uses apart prevents the general word habitus from importing the whole theory of settled ability into every occurrence.
Selected annotated passages.
Places to read
Translation in this edition
The translation distinguishes “possession,” “state,” and “settled skill” for habitus in these contexts. They should remain distinct register senses even though they share a Latin family. Expers is also used of being without sensation or contradiction’s exclusion; it does not invariably imply a culpable deprivation.
habere / possidere
habere / possidere. Printed forms: possidebat; possideri; possidet; possidetur.
Have or possess. Possessing all perfection excludes a divine acquisition of something new; received possession remains possible for creatures. References: II.12.14, III.1.6. See Possession and privation.
habitus — condition of the whole
habitus — condition of the whole. Printed forms: habitus.
Settled state or condition. The world’s best status and habitus are constituted from its parts; this is not an acquired habit of the universe. References: II.13.21. See Possession and privation.
habitus — possession
habitus — possession. Printed forms: habitus.
Possession, opposed to privation. An idea of possession makes its privation intelligible; this is not the craft-sense of a settled acquired disposition. References: II.11.19. See Possession and privation.
habitus — present state
habitus — present state. Printed forms: praesenti habitu.
Present state or condition. Spheres continuously depart from their present state; no acquired craft or ethical habit is meant. References: II.13.8. See Possession and privation.
privatio / malum
privatio / malum. Printed forms: malum; privatio.
Privation / evil. They are known through the ideas of possession and good rather than being given a separately productive idea in this passage. References: II.11.19. See Possession and privation.