Universality, law, and material restriction

Use in the book

Ficino reasons from the receiver's mode: a body or a form extended through body is bound to particular circumstances. Even an intrinsically universal form would therefore become particularized in such a subject. Its operation would then produce only singular thinking. An intellect constituted in this way could picture Socrates or Plato but could not apprehend the humanity common to both.

Rules of conduct, arts and law make the consequence concrete. A principle that applies to many cases cannot be reduced to a picture of one case as such. The argument does not say that law contains no references to particular people or circumstances; it says the act of generalizing cannot be explained by material singularity alone.

The second unit adds that universal forms arise naturally, even without prior choice or habitual exercise. Mind is therefore their natural source and receptacle. Their nonrestriction to a proper portion of matter supports the inference that mind too is not materially bound. Corruption is then associated with matter's snares. This inference belongs to Ficino's account of material dependence and does not establish that everything a person calls a general rule is true.

Places to read

1. VIII.8.1The sequence receiver–form–operation–product leads from material singularity to the impossibility of universal rules.
2. VIII.8.2Natural production and reception of universals is connected to incorruptibility.

Translation in this edition

“Even if” and “at least” preserve the counterfactual precision: forms universal in themselves would become particular at least in the proposed bodily receiver. Quotidie emphasizes their recurring natural production, rather than a single exceptional act.

angustus / amplus

angustus / amplus. Printed forms: amplius; angustius.

Narrower and more ample, spatial metaphors for restriction and intellectual reach. The more a form is bound to bodily matter, the more particular its operation becomes; universality has a wider scope without greater physical bulk. References: VIII.8.1. See Universality, law, and material restriction.

astringere / alligare

astringere / alligare. Printed forms: alligatur; astricta; astrictum; astringuntur.

Binding or restricting something to material conditions. Even a universal form would be particularized in a corporeal receiver; natural universality is used to deny such confinement of mind. References: VIII.8.1, VIII.8.2. See Universality, law, and material restriction.

certa / certus

certa / certus. Printed forms: Certa; certa; certam; certo; certum.

Determinate or definite, and sometimes certain, according to context. A determinate material situation or a defined power of reasoning is not merely a psychologically confident belief; singular restrictions are central to the universal contrast. References: VIII.1.4, VIII.4.4, VIII.4.6, VIII.4.11, VIII.10.1, VIII.10.2, VIII.16.3. See Universality, law, and material restriction.

condicio

condicio. Printed forms: condicio; condiciones; condicionibus; conditionibus.

A condition or restriction qualifying a thing's occurrence or operation. Phantasy retains singular conditions; intellect's distinct mode is argued from its ability to apprehend accounts beyond them. The supplied Latin has spelling variants with t/c. References: VIII.1.2, VIII.3.1, VIII.5.1, VIII.8.1, VIII.10.2, VIII.13.1, VIII.15.3. See Universality, law, and material restriction.

fons / receptaculum naturale

fons / receptaculum naturale. Printed forms: fons; parit; receptaculum naturale.

Natural source and recipient of universally applicable forms. The mind's regular production of universals is described as innate capacity, not solely the outcome of chosen practice. References: VIII.8.2. See Universality, law, and material restriction.

insidiae materiae

insidiae materiae. Printed forms: materiae insidiis.

The snares of matter, a figurative account of the source of corruption. Ficino argues that a mind not materially bound escapes the dependency through which such corruption arises. References: VIII.8.2. See Universality, law, and material restriction.

locus / situs / tempus

locus / situs / tempus. Printed forms: locis; loco; locum; situ; tempore; tempori; tempus.

Place, position and time as conditions individuating a material presentation. Phantasy pictures this person under these circumstances; intellect considers a common nature not confined to any one of them. References: VIII.1.2, VIII.1.3, VIII.1.4. See Universality, law, and material restriction.

materialis

materialis. Printed forms: materialem; materialia; materialis.

Material or bound to matter's conditions of reception. A material intellect would particularize its forms and confine its operations; the hypothesis is contrasted with universal cognition. References: VIII.8.1, VIII.10.2. See Universality, law, and material restriction.

proprius

proprius. Printed forms: propria; propriae; propriam; proprie; proprio; proprium; proprius.

Proper or characteristic, either exclusive to an individual or belonging to a thing's nature. A bodily instance restricts humanity to this person's embodiment, whereas mind's proper activity can be universal; in technical definitions proprie marks a narrower usage. References: VIII.1.2, VIII.1.3, VIII.1.4, VIII.2.7, VIII.3.6, VIII.3.8, VIII.4.2, VIII.4.8, VIII.4.9, VIII.4.11, VIII.7.1, VIII.8.2, VIII.10.1, VIII.12.1, VIII.13.1, VIII.14.1, VIII.15.1, VIII.15.3, VIII.16.1, VIII.16.2, VIII.16.3, VIII.16.4. See Universality, law, and material restriction.

regula / lex

regula / lex. Printed forms: conderet; legem; regulam; statueret.

Rule and law, principles established to govern many cases. Their cross-instance scope is the practical evidence that mind does more than picture this single Socrates or Plato. References: VIII.8.1. See Universality, law, and material restriction.

universalis

universalis. Printed forms: universalem; universales; universali; universalibus.

Applicable across indefinitely many instances rather than confined to a singular material situation. Universal intellectual forms support laws and rules, and collect many individuals under one intelligible nature. References: VIII.1.4, VIII.2.7, VIII.8.1, VIII.16.2. See Universality, law, and material restriction.