Relations and respects · Lexicon

From the book

Marsilio Ficino’s Platonic Theology, Volume I

Marsilio Ficino · Diotimos Editions · 2026

Orientation

At a Glance

The wordRespectus names a relation or respect of consideration.
In the Platonic TheologyThe plurality of Ideas is explained through one divine essence considered as exemplar of this or that species.
In this editionThe English “relations of thought” preserves intellecti.
A place to readQuatenus and eatenus explain how many Ideas are understood from one essence.

Meaning

Respectus names a relation or respect of consideration. Comparare sets one thing in relation to another. Prout, quatenus, and eatenus delimit how far or in which respect a predication holds. Reales and intellecti contrast real relations with relations understood by intellect.

Use in the book

The plurality of Ideas is explained through one divine essence considered as exemplar of this or that species. The relations do not arise because created things act upon God; divine intellect compares its own essence with them. Ficino explicitly distinguishes these intellectual relations from the real relations by which the divine persons are said to be distinguished. This local contrast must not become a general dismissal of every relation as fictitious. In the discussion of will, the same act is necessary insofar as it regards divine goodness, while some call it not absolutely necessary insofar as it regards creatures. The limiting words carry the argument: two respects of one act do not require two separate divine wills.

Selected annotated passages.

Places to read

II.11.18Quatenus and eatenus explain how many Ideas are understood from one essence.
II.11.19Intellectual relations are distinguished from relations assigned to the divine persons.
II.12.13Prout differentiates the act’s relation to goodness and to creatures.
II.12.15The act’s relation to effects differs from its absolute relation to God.

Translation in this edition

The English “relations of thought” preserves intellecti. “Imaginary” would add a claim not made here. The formula a quibusdam, “by some,” in II.12.13 is part of the attribution and should remain attached to the necessity distinction.

comparare

comparare. Printed forms: comparante; comparetur.

Compare or relate. The divine intellect relates essence to creatures; a worldly part is elsewhere assessed relative to the whole. References: II.11.19, II.13.23. See Relations and respects.

proprius

proprius. Printed forms: Propriae; proprias; proprium.

Proper, distinctive, or one’s own. Proper accounts distinguish a whole’s parts; the central point belongs exclusively to no individual radius. The context determines possession versus characteristic definition. References: II.11.18, III.2.15. See Relations and respects.

prout

prout. Printed forms: prout.

Insofar as, according as, or in the respect that. One act of will is distinguished by its reference to divine goodness and to creatures; the qualification does not multiply divine acts. References: II.12.12, II.12.13. See Relations and respects.

quantum / quatenus / eatenus

quantum / quatenus / eatenus. Printed forms: eatenus; quantum; quatenus.

Insofar as or to the extent that. These limit a predication to a specified explanatory respect, especially when the same essence grounds plural exemplary relations. References: II.11.18. See Relations and respects.

realis / intellectus (adjectival)

realis / intellectus (adjectival). Printed forms: intellecti; reales.

Real / understood or conceived intellectually. Ficino distinguishes exemplary relations from the real relations said to distinguish divine persons. References: II.11.19. See Relations and respects.

respectus

respectus. Printed forms: respectus; Respectusque.

Relation or respect. Ideas multiply through intellect’s comparison of one divine essence with things, not because creatures produce new states in God. References: II.11.19. See Relations and respects.