Redundancy and uselessness · Lexicon

From the book

Marsilio Ficino’s Platonic Theology, Volume I

Marsilio Ficino · Diotimos Editions · 2026

Orientation

At a Glance

The wordFrustra means in vain, fruitlessly, or to no purpose.
In the Platonic TheologyThe twin-god argument tries several distributions of creative power.
In this edition“Fruitless” aptly renders frustra where it modifies a power, while “in vain” suits the mind’s orientation.
A place to readCreative powers and duplicate worlds are tested for surplus or fruitless work

Meaning

Frustra means in vain, fruitlessly, or to no purpose. Superfluus means surplus or unnecessary, whereas sufficere means being enough for a task. In these arguments the question is whether a proposed power or explanatory addition has any work left to do.

Use in the book

The twin-god argument tries several distributions of creative power. If neither creates, both powers are fruitless; if one creates the whole, the other’s power adds no necessary effect; if each creates an identical complete world, one world suffices and the other is surplus. If each produces only a half, neither is independently the principle of everything and their coordination again requires explanation. These are conditional branches, not descriptions of multiple real universes.

Frustra has another argumentative role when the human mind’s indefinite progress is said to require an infinite terminus. Ficino denies that its orientation could be purposeless. An endless sequence of choices before every choice would likewise prevent any action from beginning. The latter is a regress of prerequisites, distinct from the existence of indefinitely many possible objects of thought.

Places to read

II.2.11, II.2.12Creative powers and duplicate worlds are tested for surplus or fruitless work
II.4.4The mind’s infinite progression is argued not to be in vain
II.8.3An infinite sequence of prior choices would block the beginning of action

Translation in this edition

“Fruitless” aptly renders frustra where it modifies a power, while “in vain” suits the mind’s orientation. Neither should be silently reduced to financial waste or physical inefficiency.

frustra / superfluus

frustra / superfluus. Printed forms: frustra; superfluus.

In vain or fruitlessly; surplus to what suffices. The twin-god hypothesis leaves a power or a duplicate world without necessary work to do. References: II.2.11, II.2.12, II.4.4. See Redundancy and uselessness.

geminus / binus

geminus / binus. Printed forms: binos; gemini; geminis.

Twin or paired, introducing a hypothetical pair. The “twin gods” and “twin worlds” are posited for refutation, not affirmed as existing. References: II.2.1, II.2.12, II.2.13. See Redundancy and uselessness.