From the book
Marsilio Ficino’s Platonic Theology, Volume I
Marsilio Ficino · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordVestigium is a trace or sign left in an effect by its source; vestigia is plural.
- In the Platonic TheologyA trace is an indication of a source through what it leaves in or communicates to an effect.
- In this edition“Trace” is contextual: the Proem’s route of inquiry, being as the first cause’s enduring impression, and unity-order-motion in the world have different referents.
- A place to readThe inquiry follows traces toward God and repeatedly turns toward soul as a mirror.
Meaning
Vestigium is a trace or sign left in an effect by its source; vestigia is plural. The metaphor concerns detectable dependence and communication, not portions detached from the cause.
The footprint or impression image has an evidential use and a causal use. Quasi marks a comparison, rather than literal tracks or a physically deeper stamp.
Use in the book
A trace is an indication of a source through what it leaves in or communicates to an effect. The Proem follows traces toward God; Book II finds traces of unity, truth, and goodness throughout things. In the causal argument, being is compared with the first cause's trace, impressed earlier and effaced later than subordinate determinations. Book IV identifies unity, order, and motion as traces of God, mind, and soul. These related uses concern intelligible dependence, not literal footprints or independent fragments of the source.
At II.1.2, traces of unity, truth, and goodness are evidence through which Ficino argues that things flow from and seek their principle. At II.7.32 the trace is identified with being and explains why the first cause’s contribution underlies and outlasts particular determinations. The second use gives the image a more explicit structure: later traces are established upon an earlier one. This distinction helps a reader move from detecting a source through its signs to understanding the ordered dependence of its effects.
Further passage references. Proem.4; II.1.2; II.7.32; IV.1.86
II.1.2: Traces serve the inference from universal participation and desire to a source II.7.32: Being is the prior impression supporting other causal traces
Places to read
- Proem.4The inquiry follows traces toward God and repeatedly turns toward soul as a mirror.
- II.1.2Things exhibit and desire traces of unity, truth, and goodness.
- II.7.32Being is the first cause’s trace, impressed before and removed after subordinate determinations.
- IV.1.86Unity, order, and motion display distinct effects of God, mind, and soul.
Translation in this edition
“Trace” is contextual: the Proem’s route of inquiry, being as the first cause’s enduring impression, and unity-order-motion in the world have different referents. The printing and erasure images at II.7.32 should remain comparisons.
The image should not be indexed only under the noun. Imprimitur, deletur, firmant, fundant, and stabiliunt articulate the causal work performed by the trace comparison.
perscrutor / indago
perscrutor / indago. Printed forms: indagat; perscrutemur.
To investigate searchingly or trace out. The objects are causes and God through individual traces; the two verbs describe directed inquiry, not a single technical faculty. References: Proem.3, Proem.4. See Traces.
vestigium
vestigium. Printed forms: vestigia; vestigium.
A trace through which something further is sought. The Proem’s movement through individual traces leads back to soul as mirror, so a trace is an evidential route rather than identity with its source. References: Proem.4. See Traces.
A trace indicating a source or embodying its causal contribution. Universal unity, truth, and goodness point to their source; being is later the first cause’s enduring impression. References: II.1.2, II.7.32. See Traces.