Forms, Souls, and Embryos

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).

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