ABSTRACT
In the Sigillus sigillorum (The Seal of Seals), Bruno develops two parallel lines of thought, one on ontology and one on epistemology. Within the first line of thought he delineates the metaphysical structure of the universe and its process of individuation, called descension; the epistemological line of thought explains how it is possible for man to ascend within that structure. Bruno insists that these two topics, descension and ascension, must exist in conformity, and, accordingly, that they must be conceived of in a uniform manner. As he maintains in the Sigillus, ascension is a reversed descension.1 In this chapter I shall focus on one particular notion in the Sigillus which is essential to both of these two parallel lines of thought, namely the notion ‘contractio’, a Latin term whose basic meaning is a process of drawing together. The aim of this article is rather preliminary and negative, to question the assumption that Bruno’s idea of ‘contractio’ in the Sigillus is substantially influenced by Marsilio Ficino. Bruno was undoubtedly inspired by Ficino in many respects, also in the Sigillus, as has been demonstrated convincingly.2 But, as I intend to argue, in regard to the use of the notion ‘contractio’, Bruno’s interpretation marks out a differentiation from Ficino, ontologically and epistemologically. I hope to be able to publish a positive and more elaborate analysis of the concept of ‘contractio’ in Bruno’s thought in the future.
