<論説>十五世紀フィレンツェのプラトニズム

Abstract

十五世紀のフイレンッエは、伊諸都市との激しい生存競争の内にあつた。かつての繁栄を支えた毛織物工業と金融業が衰退期に入つた今、支配者層は、経済的失地を政治権力でもつてカバーせざるをえなかつた。こうしてメデイチ政権下の商人＝政治家層は、益々政治的世界に巻きこまれ、政治人としての性格を濃くしていつたが、他方、文人芸術家仲間も今や私人的観想の内に止まることは許されず、政治的世界への介入を余儀なくされた。だが政治的世界に本来つきものの不安定さは、益々人々に安定の世界を求めさせる。フイチーノのプラトニズムは、このような人々の状況と意識を自己の課題として、そこに一つの解答を提示しようとしたものである。

In the fifteenth century Italy was placed in the keen economical struggle for existence among the regional states. Here in Florence the Medici Party under Cosimo and Lorenzo de Medici intended to tide over this difficult situation by appealing to the political means. They tried to rule 'Stato' and 'Arti', and monopolize city government into their hand. Thus more and more they were involved into political world and the more became political beings. But on the other hand the unrest and insecurity proper to political world led them to seek peace of mind. The more devoted they themselves to politics or economical activities, the more they had to feel emptiness in their own souls. The Platonism of Marsilio Ficino, I think, is not at all the philosophy of seclusion, or vita contemplativa as A. von Martin said. Starting with the very consciousness of contradiction between vita activa and vita contemplativa, Ficino intended to propose one solution to the inner struggle of homo politicus. In his doctrines of vita contemplaitva, of God, and of the position of man in the universe we can see his solution, and furthermore the strong claim of dignity of man.