Chapter 14 Matter
In: Marsilio Ficino as Reader of Plotinus: The ‘Enneads’ Commentary
Author:
Stephen Gersh
Stephen Gersh
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Abstract
Ficino’s commentary on Ennead II. 4 is notable for the fact that it is extremely long – whereas Plotinus’ original study of the two levels of matter is relatively short. Although the commentator makes a detailed point-by-point analysis of his source text and agrees in general with the latter, he places greater emphasis on the unity or continuum between the intelligible and sensible matter and on the identification of this unity and continuum with infinity. A concluding section introduces the scholastic distinction between esse and essentia.