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Early Modern Astral Magic: Marsilio Ficino

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The Arabic Influences on Early Modern Occult Philosophy

Part of the book series: Palgrave Historical Studies in Witchcraft and Magic ((PHSWM))

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Abstract

Two intellectual events took place in the early modern period, particularly the fifteenth century, which had a strong impact on Western occult philosophy: the revival of Platonism and Neoplatonism, and the discovery of the Hermetic Corpus. The first led to the re-animation of the universe and endowed a coherence and unity to the universe: the particulars were part of a vibrant whole. This was reinforced by the Hermetic Corpus whose discovery resulted in a kind of mystical humanism that recalls an ancient time when divine knowledge was purer and heavenly wisdom accessible, personified by the legendary Hermes Trismegistus who became a member of the prisca theologia. This brought about a new enthusiasm for esoteric and occult thought.1 Behind both events was the Florentine philosopher, priest and humanist Marsilio Ficino.2 He translated and interpreted all Plato’s works and wrote commentaries on them. He also translated works by Iamblichus, Proclus, Porphyry, Synesius, and Psellus.3 In 1460, the Hermetic Corpus was brought to Florence from Macedonia by a monk and presented to Cosimo de’ Medici who then gave orders to Ficino to translate it. Ficino completed the first translation of the Corpus Hermeticum in 1463, and in 1471 it was printed under the title of Pimander.4

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    Liana Saif

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Saif, L. (2015). Early Modern Astral Magic: Marsilio Ficino. In: The Arabic Influences on Early Modern Occult Philosophy. Palgrave Historical Studies in Witchcraft and Magic. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137399472_6

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