Virgil offers his third discourse on love at the middle of PURGATORIO to 1) show his work about ethics derived from Aristotle's notions of substance and cause and 2) to make sure the pilgrim understands that his actions are his own fault.

This is a complicated passage with lots of historical resonances, particularly from Aristotle and Plato (as understood through Aquinas). It'll take us some work to unpack it, but we'll get very close to our modern understanding of ethics.

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Here are the segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:

[02:13] My English translation of the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XVIII, lines 49 - 75. If you'd like to read along or continue the conversation with me, please scroll down this page.

[05:12] The various notions of Aristotelean causality in the passage: material and necessary causes, as well as the nature of "substance."

[11:59] Material causes and substantial forms.

[14:59] A misinterpretation of the substance and material in the passage that has infected the commentary on COMEDY for centuries.

[17:44] The desire for primary things and Virgil's misunderstanding.

[23:24] Virgil's (and Dante's) definition of reason and our understanding of ethics from it.

[28:35] Reason's results: ethics.

[29:41] A logic flaw in Virgil's argument.

[33:13] Marco of Lombardy vs. Virgil.

[36:19] Rereading the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XVIII, lines 49 - 75.

And here’s my English translation of Purgatorio, Canto XVIII, Lines 49 – 75

[Virgil continued a third time]: “Every substantial form, which is set apart

From the material that’s unified with it,

Has gathered into itself an individuated inclination

 

“Which cannot be sensed except by its actions

Nor can it be demonstrated except by its effects,

Just as the green leaves [demonstrate] the life of a plant.

 

“Admittedly, nobody knows from what spot

Our discernment of first notions comes,

Nor [do we know what moves] our desires for primary things.

 

“These [desires] are in you just as the drive to make

Honey is inherent in the bee. So this first turning of the will

Merits neither praise nor condemnation.

 

“Given that and so that every other desire can be gathered toward this first one,

The power that gives good advice and

Guards the threshold of consent is innate in you.

 

“This is the postulate that can account for the roots

Of merit within you, according to how it

Accepts or winnows good and evil love.

 

“Those who’ve reasoned this out to its foundations

Recognize this sort of innate liberty.

Thus, they left behind to this world [their understanding of] morality.

 

“For the sake of the argument, let’s posit that every love ignited in you

Arises from a necessary cause.

Then you’ve also got the power to restrain it.

 

“Beatrice understands this noble power

As free will. So see that you

Keep it in mind when she speaks to you about it.”