Porphyry To Gaurus on How Embryos Are Ensouled and on What Is in Our Power

Concerningembryos,PorphyrytakesanoriginalviewonissuesthathadbeenleftundecidedbyhisteacherPlotinusandearlierbythedoctorGalen.Whatroleisplayedinthedevelopmentoftheembryobythesoulsorthenaturesofthefather,ofthemother,oftheembryo,orofthewholeworld?Porphyry\'sdetailedanswer,incontrasttoAristotle\'s,givesasignificantroletothesoulandtothenatureofthemother,without,however,abandoningAristotle\'sviewthatthemothersuppliesnoseed.InthefragmentsofOnWhatisinOurPower,\"Porphyry\"discussesPlato\'sideathatwechooseeachofourincarnations,andsoareresponsibleforwhathappensinourlives.ThisvolumecontainsanEnglishtranslationofthetwocommentaries,aswellasextensivenotes,anintroductionandabibliography.,