When Philosophers Rule: Ficino on Plato's Republic, Laws, & Epinomis

Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499) was a key figure in the Renaissance era as a philosopher, scholar, a priest, physician and musician. He made available to the West the Corpus Hermeticum as well as the works of Plato, which he quoted in his sermons in Florence Cathedral. It is quite surprising that this is the first English translation of Ficino's commentaries on Plato's Republic and the Laws, as well as a lesser-known work. The translator has been associated with the School of Economic Science for nearly 50 years, and its principal, Ian Mason, contributes the Foreword. He sees the importance of this work to our time in terms of self-government, taking control of one's inner life (these two dialogues are fundamentally about government, the latter written by Plato in his old age). As one would expect, the commentaries are erudite and well-informed, referring to neo-Platonic literature as well as to Plato himself. Of particular interest are his remarks on the allegory of the care if, where he refers to light being threefold -- divine, intellectual and visible. He also provides a commentary on the Myth of Er, giving his view on why this is conveyed as a story rather than a philosophical analysis. The structure follows the original books, and the whole work is dedicated to Lorenzo de Medici, his patron. This is a rich new seam for students of the perennial philosophy.