Forms, Souls, and Embryos

NOTE EDITORE

Forms, Souls, and Embryos allows readers coming from different backgrounds to appreciate the depth and originality with which the Neoplatonists engaged with and responded to a number of philosophical questions central to human reproduction, including: What is the causal explanation of the embryo’s formation? How and to what extent are Platonic Forms involved? In what sense is a fetus ‘alive,’ and when does it become a human being? Where does the embryo’s soul come from, and how is it connected to its body? This is the first full-length study in English of this fascinating subject, and is a must-read for anyone interested in Neoplatonism or the history of medicine and embryology.

SOMMARIO

Introduction Chapter 1: The Embryological Background General Background: Four Key Issues in Ancient Embryology Embryology in Plato Chapter 2: The Metaphysical Background Metaphysical Models in Embryology The Biological Development of the Theory of Forms Chapter 3: Neoplatonic Embryology: The Core Theory The One-Seed Theory The Origin and Nature of the Seed The Maternal Actualization of the Seed Other External Factors in the Formation of the Offspring Appendix to Chapter 3: Eclectic Theories The Commentary on the Hippocratic On the Nature of the Child by John of Alexandria Theophilus Protospatharius’ On the Construction of the Human Being Pseudo-Galen’s De Spermate Pseudo-Iamblichus’ Theology of Arithmetic Pseudo-Galen’s Whether What is Carried in the Womb is a Living Thing The Commentary on Aristotle’s On the Generation of Animals by Michael of Ephesus Michael’s Interpretation of Aristotle’s Embryology Michael’s Interpretation of Plato’s Embryology Chapter 4: Formation and Animation of the Embryo The Order of the Embryo’s Formation The Animation of the Embryo Chapter 5: The Problem of Teratogenesis Epilogue Bibliography Index Locorum Subject Index

AUTORE

James Wilberding is Professor of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy at Ruhr University, Bochum (Germany). Previously he was a lecturer in Classics at Newcastle University (UK) and Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Williams College (USA).

ALTRE INFORMAZIONI

• Condizione: Nuovo
• ISBN: 9781138955271
• Collana: Issues in Ancient Philosophy
• Dimensioni: 9.25 x 6.25 in Ø 1.00 lb
• Formato: Copertina rigida
• Pagine Arabe: 232
• Pagine Romane: x