Forms, souls, and embryos : Neoplatonists on human reproduction / James Wilberding.

Author
Wilberding, James [Browse]
Format
Book
Language
English
Published/​Created
  • London : Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2017.
  • ©2017
Description
viii, 232 pages ; 24 cm.

Availability

Copies in the Library

Location Call Number Status Location Service Notes
Firestone Library - Stacks QL953 .W55 2017 Browse related items Request

    Details

    Subject(s)
    Series
    Issues in ancient philosophy [More in this series]
    Summary note
    "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." -- From Publisher's description.
    Bibliographic references
    Includes bibliographical references (pages 174-199) and indexes.
    Contents
    • 1 The embryological background. General background : four key issues in ancient embryology ; Embryology in Plato
    • 2 The metaphysical background. Metaphysical models in embryology ; The biological development of the theory of forms
    • 3 Neoplatonic embryology : the core theory. The one-seed theory ; The origin and nature of the seed ; The maternal actualization thesis ; 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
    • 4 Formation and animation of the embryo. The order of the embryo's formation ; The animation of the embryo
    • 5 The Problem of Teratogenesis
    • Epilogue.
    ISBN
    • 9781138955271 ((hardback ; : alk. paper))
    • 1138955272 ((hardback ; : alk. paper))
    LCCN
    2015046525
    OCLC
    955528115
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