DiotimosReading Desk

Harmony proportion and the agent that orders

Proportion, health, strength and beauty

ratio compositionis; proportio; sanitas; robur; pulchritudo; os; nervus; caro

Ratio can name an account or a determinate relation; here ratio compositionis concerns the proportion of constituents.

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 wordRatio can name an account or a determinate relation; here ratio compositionis concerns the proportion of constituents.
  • In the Platonic TheologyThe second reading of soul-as-concord makes soul a proportion within bodily composition.
  • In this editionThe first ratio in the chapter’s dilemma is rendered “proportion”; later rationes atque proportiones preserves its pairing with explicit proportions.
  • A place to readDifferent tissue proportions, one life, three bodily goods and the Aristotle–Hippocrates contrast form successive tests.

Meaning

Ratio can name an account or a determinate relation; here ratio compositionis concerns the proportion of constituents. It is not simply the rational faculty. Health, strength and beauty are bodily perfections whose relevant proportions differ.

Use in the book

The second reading of soul-as-concord makes soul a proportion within bodily composition. Ficino objects that different members have different proportions: bone, nerve and flesh would each possess a different soul. This fails to explain the one life of a single living creature, requiring one form, mover and ruler.

He then recognizes the proper domain of the proposal. Health is concord of humors; strength concord of bones and nerves; beauty, in a qualified way, concord of members and colors. Proportion does explanatory work in those bodily cases. Sensation and intellect, however, are simple acts whose alleged harmonious constituents have not been identified. Knowing a body’s proportion therefore gives some understanding of its health, strength and beauty without yet revealing the soul’s powers, affections, acts and habits.

The comparison of Aristotle and Hippocrates illustrates this difference of explanatory competence. Ficino says Aristotle knows sensing and understanding better, while Hippocrates examines bodily proportions more carefully. This is a local contrast offered by Ficino; it should not become a documented historical ranking of their complete sciences. Nor does he conclude that bodily proportion is irrelevant to cognition’s instruments. His point is that the knowledge sufficient for the bodily qualities does not disclose the soul’s substance.

Places to read

  1. VII.12.1Different tissue proportions, one life, three bodily goods and the Aristotle–Hippocrates contrast form successive tests.

Translation in this edition

The first ratio in the chapter’s dilemma is rendered “proportion”; later rationes atque proportiones preserves its pairing with explicit proportions. “In a certain way” retains quodammodo in the definition of beauty. Os here is bone, while os clamat at VII.5.1 concerns the mouth.

actus simplex

actus simplex. Printed forms: actus simplices.

Simple acts, specifically sensing and understanding. The harmony theory has not identified the constituents whose proportion would explain these activities as it explains bodily goods. References: VII.12.1. See Proportion, health, strength and beauty.

Aristoteles / Hippocrates

Aristoteles / Hippocrates. Printed forms: Aristoteles; Hippocrates.

Authorities contrasted in knowledge of cognitive acts and bodily proportions. Ficino attributes superior understanding of sensing and intellect to Aristotle, more careful consideration of the proportions to Hippocrates. References: VII.12.1. See Proportion, health, strength and beauty.

invenire / reperire

invenire / reperire. Printed forms: inveniendum; invenies; invenimus; invenire; invenit; invenitur; inventa; reperisse; reperit; reperitur; reperiunt; reperta.

To find or discover a structure or explanation. Finding bodily proportion does not amount to discovering sensing and understanding; the object discovered matters to the claim. References: VII.4.1, VII.12.1. See Proportion, health, strength and beauty.

Finding or discovering, in inquiry, analysis and the enlargement of thought. Mathematical principles are not found by sense in matter, whereas mind discovers principles and can conceive a higher finite grade before reaching the infinite source. References: VIII.1.5, VIII.2.1, VIII.2.7, VIII.3.7, VIII.4.2, VIII.13.1, VIII.16.1, VIII.16.2, VIII.16.3. See Measuring infinity and thinking being and nonbeing.

os / nervus / caro

os / nervus / caro. Printed forms: caro; nervorum; nervus; os; ossium.

Bone, nerve or sinew, and flesh as differently constituted tissues. Their differing proportions cannot each supply a different soul if one animal is to have one life. References: VII.12.1. See Proportion, health, strength and beauty.

ratio compositionis / proportio

ratio compositionis / proportio. Printed forms: compositionis rationes; proportione; proportionem; proportiones; ratio; rationem.

A determinate ratio or proportion among bodily constituents. Different tissues have different proportions; identifying each proportion with a soul would divide one living being into many souls. References: VII.12.1. See Proportion, health, strength and beauty.

sanitas / robur / pulchritudo

sanitas / robur / pulchritudo. Printed forms: pulchritudinem; Pulchritudo; Robur; robur; Sanitas; sanitatem.

Health, strength and beauty as bodily perfections. Humoral concord explains health; bones and nerves strength; members and colors beauty in a qualified sense. These do not define soul. References: VII.12.1. See Proportion, health, strength and beauty.

vires / affectus / actus / habitus

vires / affectus / actus / habitus. Printed forms: actus; affectus; habitus; vires; viribus.

Powers, affections, acts and settled states of soul. Knowing bodily proportions still leaves these psychic features unexplained; they must not be flattened into one physiological variable. References: VII.12.1. See Proportion, health, strength and beauty.

Aristotle (authorities and interlocutors)

Aristotle. Ficino places Aristotle largely, rather than without qualification, with the ancient theologians. Elsewhere the owl-eye comparison and arguments concerning cognitive activity and bodily restriction enter particular proofs. These uses do not by themselves establish complete agreement between Aristotle and Ficino. References: VI.1.6, VI.2.9, VII.12.1, VIII.10.2. See Divine production and the third essence; Intellectual objects and the owl’s eye; Proportion, health, strength and beauty; Kind, generation, and operation’s dependence on substance.

Hippocrates (authorities and interlocutors)

Hippocrates. Bodily proportions are contrasted with the character of cognitive excellence in the argument against identifying soul with bodily harmony. This is a use within Ficino’s historical physiology, not modern medical advice. References: VII.12.1. See Proportion, health, strength and beauty.