Forms, Souls, and Embryos : Neoplatonists on Human Reproduction

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.