Nemesius: On the Nature of Man (Translated Texts for Historians LUP) (Volume 46)

Translated with an introduction and notes by R. W. Sharples and P. J. van der Eijk. Nemesius' treatise "On the Nature of Man" is an important text for historians of ancient thought, not only as a much-quarried source of evidence for earlier works now lost, but also as an indication of intellectual life in the late fourth century AD. The author was a Christian bishop; the subject is the nature of human beings and their place in the scheme of created things. The medical works of Galen and the philosophical writings of Plato, Aristotle and the Neoplatonist Porphyry are all major influences on Nemesius; so too the controversial Christian Origen. On the Nature of Man provides the first kown compendium of theological anthropology with a Christian orientation and considerably influenced later Byzantine and medieval Latin philosophical theology. Nemesius' Treatise On The Nature Of Man Is An Important Text For Historians Of Ancient Thought, Not Only As A Much-quarried Source Of Evidence For Earlier Works Now Lost, But Also As An Indication Of Intellectual Life In The Late Fourth Century Ad. The Author Was A Christian Bishop; The Subject Is The Nature Of Human Beings And Their Place In The Scheme Of Created Things. The Medical Works Of Galen And The Philosophical Writings Of Plato, Aristotle And The Neoplatonist Porphyry Are All Major Influences On Nemesius; So Too The Controversial Christian Origen. On The Nature Of Man Provides The First Known Compendium Of Theological Anthropology With A Christian Orientation And Considerably Influenced Later Byzantine And Medieval Latin Philosophical Theology.--jacket. Nemesius On The Nature Of Man -- 1. On The Nature Of Man -- 2. On The Soul -- 3. On The Union Of Soul And Body -- 4. On The Body -- 5. On The Elements -- 6. On Imagination -- 7. On Sight -- 8. On Touch -- 9. On Taste -- 10. On Hearing -- 11. On Smell -- 12. On Thought -- 13. On Memory -- 14. On Immanent And Expressed Reason -- 15. Another Division Of The Soul -- 16. On The Non-rationalpart Of Kind Of The Soul, Which Is Also Called The Affective And Appetitive -- 17. On The Desirous Part -- 18. On Pleasures -- 19. On Distress -- 20. On Anger -- 21. On Fear -- 22. On The Non-rational Element That Is Not Capable Of Obeying Reason -- 23. On The Nutritive Faculty -- 24. On Pulsation -- 25. On The Generative Or Seminal Faculty -- 26. Another Division Of The Powers Controlling Living Beings -- 27. On Movement According To Impulse Or Choice, Which Belongs To The Appetitive Part -- 28. On Respiration -- 29. On The Intentional And Unintentional -- 30. On The Unintentional -- 31. On The Unintentional Through Ignorance -- 32. On The Intentional -- 33. On Choice -- 34. About What Things Do We Deliberate? -- 35. On Fate -- 36. On What Is Fated Through The Stars -- 37. On Those Who Say That Choice Of Actions Is Up To Us -- 38. On Plato's Account Of Fate -- 39. On What Is Up To Us , Or On Autonomy -- 40. Concerning What Things Are Up To Us -- 41. For What Reason Were We Born Autonomous? -- 42. On Providence -- 43. About What Matters There Is Providence. Nemesius ; Translated With An Introduction And Notes By R.w. Sharples And P.j. Van Der Eijk. This Translation Is A Substantially Revised Version Of One Initially Prepared (but Never Published) By J.o. Urmson.... The Translation Is Based On Moran's 1987 Teubner Text....--p. [vii]. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [222]-234) And Indexes. Translated From Ancient Greek. ANemesius' treatise On the Nature of Man is an important text for historians of ancient thought, not only as a much-quarried source of evidence for earlier works now lost, but also as an indication of intellectual life in the late fourth century AD. The author was a Christian bishop; the subject is the nature of human beings and their place in the scheme of created things. The medical works of Galen and the philosophical writings of Plato, Aristotle and the Neoplatonist Porphyry are all major influences on Nemesius; so too the controversial Christian Origen. On the Nature of Man provides the first kown compendium of theological anthropology with a Christian orientation and considerably influenced later Byzantine and medieval Latin philosophical theology. Sharples and van der Eijk are to be thanked and congratulated for their production of this book which, by bringing together much of what is known about this important text, quite distinctly indicates also what still needs to be done for a full understanding of it. Journal of Theological Studies, vol 61, no 1, April 2010 Sharples and van der Eijk have made a significant contribution to students of patristics and the late antique world. I hope that this excellent translation will fuel greater study of Nemesius, not only as a witness of lost antique philosophical and medical sources, but as an apologist and theologian in his own right. Sobornost (incorporating Eastern Churches Review), 31:1 ...its clear presentation of the work in its late antique context will mightily assist any exploration of this influence. This is a very welcome addition to the already immensely distinguished series, Translated Texts for Historians. Early Medieval Europe Vol. 18 (4) https://global.oup.com/academic/product/9781846311321?cc=us Philip Van Der Eijk is Professor of Greek at Newcastle University. †R.W. Sharples was Professor of Classics at University College London. He published widely on ancient philosophy, especially the Aristotelian tradition (Theophrastus, Alexander of Aphrodisias). His books include 'Stoics, Epicureans and Sceptics' (Routledge, 1996), 'Nemesius: On Fate' (Liverpool University Press, 2008), and 'Cicero: On Fate with Boethius: The Consolation of Philosophy IV.5-7 and V' and 'Plato: Meno' in the Aris & Phillips Classical Texts series. Publisher description Preface vii Abbreviations ix Introduction 1 1 The importance of Nemesius 1 2 Nemesius and the scope of his treatise 2 3 Nemesius’ Christianity 5 4 Nemesius’ views 7 5 Nemesius’ sources 18 Nemesius, "On the Nature of Man" 1 On the nature of man 35 2 On the soul 51 3 On the union of soul and body 78 4 On the body 87 5 On the elements 91 6 On imagination 100 7 On sight 104 8 On touch 109 9 On taste 114 10 On hearing 116 11 On smell 116 12 On thought 117 13 On memory 118 14 On immanent and expressed reason 123 15 Another division of the soul 125 16 On the non-rational part or kind of the soul, which is also called the affective and appetitive 127 17 On the desirous part 132 18 On pleasures 134 19 On distress 140 20 On anger 141 21 On fear 142 22 On the non-rational element that is not capable of obeying reason 145 23 On the nutritive faculty 145 24 On pulsation 150 25 On the generative or seminal faculty 153 26 Another division of the powers controlling living beings 157 27 On movement according to impulse or choice, which belongs to the appetitive part 158 28 On respiration 161 29 On the intentional and unintentional 168 30 On the unintentional 169 31 On the unintentional through ignorance 172 32 On the intentional 174 33 On choice 176 34 About what things do we deliberate? 180 35 On fate 184 36 On what is fated through the stars 186 37 On those who say that choice of actions is up to us 188 38 On Plato’s account of fate 190 39 On what is up to us, or on autonomy 194 40 Concerning what things are up to us 197 41 For what reason were we born autonomous? 200 42 On providence 204 43 About what matters there is providence 209 Bibliography 222 Index of passages cited 235 General index 255