Commentary on platos symposium on love by marsilio ficino. This edition makes ficinos tuscan version available to english readers for the first time. In it he identified platos theory of love with christian love, and argued that the proper love of another person is in fact preparation for the love of god. Marsilio ficino by marsilio ficino, dorothea gall 2 editions first published in 2003 not in library.
Platos third eye studies in marsilio ficinos metaphysics and its sources, 1st edition. In chapter vii of his commentary on plato s phaedrus, published in 1496, the florentine marsilio ficino gives a description of the chariot of the soul in which plato s original image appears supplemented with additions borrowed from other. Marsilio ficino 14331499 marsilio ficino was a florentine philosopher, translator, and commentator, largely responsible for the revival of plato and platonism in the renaissance. Marsilio ficino has 63 books on goodreads with 1532 ratings. Buy commentary on plato s symposium on love by ficino, marsilio, sears jayne isbn. Commentary on plato s symposium on love ficino, marsilio on. Marsilio ficino stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Another fascinating work, but out of print translation of ficinos work is his commentary on plato s symposium translated by sears jayne. Marsilio ficinos commentary on platos symposium sears. Sept 2014 10 mb this link contains a free pdf copy of plato s symposium. Due to the length of ficinos commentary, vanhaelens edition volume 2 is printed in two parts.
He has been widely recognized by historians of philosophy for his defense of the immortality of the soul, as well as for his translations of plato, plotinus, and the hermetic corpus from greek to latin. See all books authored by marsilio ficino, including meditations on the soul. Marsilio ficinos commentary on plato s symposium by marsilio ficino 2 editions first published in 1944 not in library. Platos gorgias, sophists, marsilio ficino, rhetoric, philosophy. Marsilio ficino was a central figure in renaissance platonism not only as a selfstyled prophet of platonic wisdom, but also as the first scholar who managed to translate all works of plato into any western language, and to accompany each of them either with a detailed commentary, or. Since ficino asserts that love is the basis of magic, and indeed, the key link that ensures the unity of the cosmos, his commentary on plato. Although marsilio ficino is undoubtedly a major figure of the renaissance, many people have not heard of him and. Another fascinating work, but out of print translation of ficino s work is his commentary on plato s symposium translated by sears jayne. Marsilio ficino, commentary on platos symposium on love, trans. Ficino s commentaries and treatises placed him in the first rank of philosophers of his age.
Trueblood, plato s symposium and ficino s commentary in lope. Socrates and aristodemus will attend a banquet at agathon, with aristophanes, appolodore, pausanias and eryximachus. Symposium by plato, part of the internet classics archive. Italian philosopher marsilio ficino devoted a lifetime to the study of the works of plato. Nevertheless, the human soul is dependent on the examination of this very reality in dialogue with another. It was cavalcanti who first suggested the idea of the symposium commentary, ficino. Categories ethics in value theory, miscellaneous categorize this paper isbns. Marsilio ficinos commentary on the fatal number in book viii of plato s republic. Ficino, who was also present, recorded what was said, although he himself did not speak, and his report constitutes the text of his commentary to platos dialogue. Commentary on plato s symposium on love by marsilio ficino 2 editions first published in 1985 not in library.
Philosophical, aesthetic, and political approaches in renaissance platonism. This book is a translation of ficinos tuscan commentary to platos symposium. The florentine scholar was largely responsible for the revival of platonism in western europe during the renaissance and beyond. Plato s symposium and ficino s commentary agree in the vision of spiritual love as an ennobling force, in contrast to carnal love, which debases, a vision which in socrates speech pro duces the famous description of a ladder of love leading up to the pure idea of the good and the beautiful. Marsilio ficinos most popular book is commentary on plato s symposium on love.
Her work comprises volume 2 of ficinos commentaries on plato, and follows michael j. Trueblood, plato s symposium and ficinos commentary in lope. Neoplatonist whose commentary on the dream of scipio was the most important sourcebook of. Here ficino set up his famous florentine academy, devoted to the study and celebration of plato s teachings. Marsilio ficino and renaisance of platonism neoplatonism. Ficinos commentaries and treatises placed him in the first rank of philosophers of his age. Ficino, marsilio article about ficino, marsilio by the free.
Marsilio ficino books list of books by author marsilio. Marsilio ficinos commentary on the fatal number in book viii of platos republic. Plato s symposium and ficinos commentary agree in the vision of spiritual love as an ennobling force, in contrast to carnal love, which debases, a vision which in socrates speech pro duces the famous description of a ladder of love leading up to the pure idea of the good and the beautiful. Jayne, marsilio ficino, commentary on platos symposium on love dallas. Symposium is central in platos philosophy, since it talks about love and ideas. The second and seventh of ficinos speakers do not mention the symposium, jayne. Ficinos exegetical approach mainly follows proclus commentary. Marsilio ficino, born october 19, 1433, figline, republic of florence italydied october 1, 1499, careggi, near florence, italian philosopher, theologian, and linguist whose translations and commentaries on the writings of plato and other classical greek authors generated the florentine platonist renaissance that influenced european thought for two centuries.
Since ficino asserts that love is the basis of magic, and indeed, the key link that ensures the unity of the cosmos, his commentary on plato s renowned work on love is of great interest. Marsilio ficino s interpretation of plato s sophist, edited and translated by michael j. Ficinos hermias translation and a new apologue coauthored with roger a. Ficino s labors as a translator provided his greekless contemporaries with access to the greatest works of the ancient platonic tradition. Platos symposium is one of the acknowledged classics of ancient greek literature and. Melancholy and the relations between body, spirit and soul. Author of commentary on plato s symposium on love, meditations on the soul, and platonic theology, vol. Marsilio ficino, italian philosopher, theologian, and linguist whose translations and commentaries on the writings of plato and other classical greek authors generated the florentine platonist renaissance that influenced european thought for two centuries. Marsilio ficino s commentary on the fatal number in book viii of plato s republic. He continued to receive the active support of the medici until their expulsion from florence in 1494. Ficino, marsilio religion, spiritualism, and occult the florentine philosopher marsilio ficino 14331499 is chiefly remembered for his revival of platonic philosophy into the christian west, but has been generally less recognized for his radical revisioning of the very premises of traditional astrology. On popular platonismgiovanni pico with elia del medigo. Marsilio ficino as a beginning student of plato persee. Hermetic roots of marsilio ficinos anthropocentric thought.
Marsilio ficino italian philosopher and theologian. During this time marsilio gave public lectures on plato to a large audience. Responsibility the text and a translation, with an introduction, by sears reynolds jayne. Through his acquaintance with janus pannonius in the mid 1460s, ficino had every reason to believe that in hungary were men who would have. By 1456, marsilio ficino had begun to study greek with a view to examining the original sources of platonic philosophy, and he translated some texts into latin. Marsilio ficinos commentary on plato s symposium sears reynolds jayne a. Marsilio ficinos commentary on platos symposium sears reynolds jayne a.
Readers interested in intertextuality will observe how benivieni, by means of modesty, reduces his. Marsilio ficino italian philosopher and theologian britannica. Later i decided to compile it on a more systematic basis in the hope that it would be useful to others who are working on the platonic textual tradition, and that it might promote study in this field. In t r o d u c t i o n twenty years ago michael allen wrote two fundamental articles on marsilio ficinos parmenides commentary. Marsilio ficinos commentary on platos symposium in. The aim of this commentary is to make platos symposium as accessible as possible to intermediatelevel greek readers so that they may experience the joy, insight, and lasting influence that comes from reading some of the greatest works in classical antiquity in the original greek. Although ficino is commonly known as a translator and keen reader of the philosophical. Ficino, marsilio internet encyclopedia of philosophy.
Marsilio ficino project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. But since the 197os michael allen has been mining ficino s other commentaries, especially those on plato s phaedrus and philebus, but also those on the parmenides and timaeus and plotinus enneads. But since the 197os michael allen has been mining ficinos other commentaries, especially those on plato s phaedrus and philebus, but also those on the parmenides and timaeus and plotinus enneads. Books by marsilio ficino author of commentary on platos. Cambridge, mass harvard university press, 20012006.
Neo latin news allen has devoted the best part of his scholarly endeavors to interpreting a great interpreter of plato, marsilio ficino. On the nature of love is a translation of marsilio ficinos commentary to platos symposium. Quite a few comments have been posted about symposium. Marsilio ficinos commentary on plato s symposium, volume 19, issues 12 marsilius ficinus, sears reynolds jayne snippet view 1944. Commentary on platos symposium on love marsilio ficino on. Marsilio ficinos most popular book is commentary on platos symposium on love. Marsilio ficinos commentary on plato s symposium, volume 19 marsilio ficino, sears reynolds jayne snippet view 1944. Hermetic roots of marsilio ficinos anthropocentric thought lauri ockenstrom marsilio ficinos relationship to the hermetic literary tradition has long been a controversial issue in academic discussion. Marsilio ficino, pietro bembo, baldassare castiglione. Translation of marsilio ficinos commentary on plato s symposium, renaissance, neoplatonism.
The book is a translation of a work by the fifteenthcentury magus. Marsilio ficino renaissance and reformation oxford. Some of his lectures still exist, as well as four volumes of platonic commentaries. Author of commentary on plato s symposium on love, meditations on the soul, and three books on life. Marsilio ficinos most celebrated commentary is the deamore, his explanation of plato s symposium. Translation of marsilio ficinos commentary on platos symposium, renaissance, neoplatonism. Platos symposium greek and latin texts with facing. Marsilio ficino author of commentary on platos symposium. Marsilio ficino s most celebrated commentary is the deamore, his explanation of plato s symposium. Contributor jayne, sears reynolds, 1920contentssummary. Isbn 0520081439 ernst cassirer, paul oskar kristeller, john herman randall, jr. Selected letters of marsilio ficino, and marsilio ficino. If you have read one paragraph of any james hillman book, you know marsilio ficino is the godfather of archetypal psychology.
Life, style of philosophy, the platonic academy ficino was born on 19 october, 1433, in figline valdarno, a small community southeast of florence, to his mother alexandra the daughter of a florentine citizen and her husband, dietifeci ficino. Publication date 1944 series the university of missouri studies, vol. The guests decide not to get drunk, but drinking a. Feb 11, 2016 the symposium or banquet, which forms platos inspiring account of socrates and his fellows discoursing on the nature of love, was translated from the greek into latin by the renaissance scholar, philosopher and astrologer, marsilio ficino. Marsilio ficino 143399 combined elements drawn from different. The commentary on the symposium, and substantial parts of.
An early dedication copy of this was sent to janus pannonius as early as 1469. He was an astrologer, a reviver of neoplatonism in touch with the major academics of his day and the first translator of plato s complete. In his parmenides commentary marsilio ficino shows a quite different understanding of the parmenides. The book is a translation of a work by the fifteenth century magus. On november 7, 1468, nine men gathered at careggi, outside florence, to honour platos birthday. Buy commentary on platos symposium on love by ficino, marsilio, sears jayne isbn. Allens superb translations of ficinos commentaries on the phaedrus and the ion volume 1 in the series.
The symposium or banquet, which forms platos inspiring account of socrates and his fellows discoursing on the nature of love, was translated from the greek into latin by the renaissance scholar, philosopher and astrologer, marsilio ficino. Studies in marsilio ficinos metaphysics and its sources. Commentary on platos symposium on love marsilio ficino. Marsilio ficino author of commentary on platos symposium on. Mioreover, it is evident that lope even went beyond these works to the fountainhead, the symposium itself. Eventually ficinos commentary on the symposiuman unorthodox dialogue itself loosely inspired by the originalbecame one of his most popular and influential treatments of plato.
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