FICINO AND THE NODUS DIVINUS : TIMAEAN AND IAMBLICHEAN MEAN TERMS AND THE SOUL IN PLATONIC THEOLOGY 1-4

This paper analyzes the compositional, cosmological, and metaphysical order in Marsilio Ficino's Platonic Theology 1-4. It argues that Ficino conceived of this order according to Timaean and Iamblichean mean terms. It revises the accepted conclusion that the central bond in the Platonic Theology is the human soul, demonstrating instead that the mean term of the third substance in Ficino's five grades of reality is the soul of the spheres. Examining Ficino's arguments and ancient sources, it also discusses older traditions of mathematical theologies and cosmologies. It further analyzes the formal nature of cosmological, metaphysical, and theurgical arguments constructed with mathematical laws of mean terms.