«The incompatibility of contradictions first shows up in the soul, since it is the first quantity, positing part beyond part.» — es tesis de Pico que la incompatibilidad de las contradicciones aparece primero en el alma, por ser la primera cantidad, que pone parte más allá de parte.
Magia filosófica
What does this tradition say about experience, knowledge and transformation? We approach these questions with consciousness as our centre, listening to the language of each source.
Gonzalo Olivares Velázquez · Spiritus Mundi
1 · Listen to the sources
How these passages were chosen: from the works assigned to this tradition, in alphabetical order, the first passage of each whose quoted words name consciousness, awareness, soul, spirit or knowledge (in English or Spanish); one per work, up to four. The choice is by vocabulary only: a passage may agree with our reading, disagree with it, or leave the question open.
«Octavo: Que la primera y principal forma natural, principio formal y naturaleza eficiente, es el alma del Universo, que es principio de vida, vegetación y sensibilidad en todas las cosas que viven, vegetan y sienten.» — el argumento analítico que la epístola pone delante del segundo diálogo identifica en un solo término la primera forma natural, el principio formal y la naturaleza eficiente, y los resuelve en el alma del Universo.
«Fourth, magic refers to what happens as a result of the powers of attraction and repulsion between things, for example, the pushes, motions and attractions due to magnets and such things, when all these actions are due not to active and passive qualities but rather to the spirit or soul existing in things. This is called ‘natural magic’ in the proper sense» — y la magia natural en sentido propio, que no pasa por cualidades activas y pasivas sino por el espíritu o alma de las cosas.
«There are three gates through which the hunter of souls ventures to bind: vision, hearing, and» — mente o imaginación; quien pasa por las tres ata con más fuerza.
2 · Ask what each source declares
Who knows, and what is transformed? Is the relationship between inner experience and the world declared, disputed, or left open? Let the passage determine the answer before bringing it into dialogue with our reading.
Explore documented argument maps →3 · Return to the centre
For us, these paths meet in consciousness. Which passage converses with that reading, and which qualifies or contradicts it? Save it with your own note.
Read the position of the house →Open your notebook →