Albert the Great (c. 1193-1280) and the Configuration of the Embryo: Virtus Formativa

This book explores Albert the Great's concept of virtus formativa, a shaping force in the formation of living beings, crossing theology and philosophy. It reconstructs how Albert reorganized natural-philosophical and medical theories on embryonic development, drawing upon Greek, Patristic, and Arabic sources. A valuable contribution to research, it offers insights into the history of embryology, medicine, and science in the medieval and renaissance periods.

Format: Hardback
Length: 171 pages
Publication date: 28 September 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This comprehensive book delves into Albert the Great's (c. 1193–1280) groundbreaking concept of virtus formativa, a fundamental shaping force that played a pivotal role in the formation of living beings. Spanning the realms of theology and philosophy, virtus formativa, also known as formative power, was central to understanding genetic inheritance and the intricate configuration of the embryo. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach, this book reconstructs how Albert the Great, driven by theological questions, reorganized natural-philosophical and medical theories on embryonic development. Drawing upon a rich tapestry of Greek, Patristic, and Arabic sources, he creatively synthesized these diverse influences to forge a new understanding of embryonic development. This groundbreaking work not only contributes to the field of research but also provides invaluable insights for scholars exploring the history of embryology, medicine, and science during the medieval and Renaissance periods.

Weight: 374g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031240225
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023