De Anima
A Treatise on the Soul
Edition & AttributionTranslator, publisher and source details for this edition.
- Translator
- Peter Holmes
- Series
- The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume III
- Editor
- Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson (series editors); A. Cleveland Coxe (American edition)
- Publisher
- The Christian Literature Publishing Company (copyright 1885); this printing Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1918
- Year
- 1885
- Revision
- Printed pp. 181-235, with the translator named in the work's own heading. Transcribed from the CCEL ThML of ANF III, whose integrity was audited against the dated scan (Internet Archive antenicenefather03robe) before this build, which found no body-text loss. ANF prints chapters without numbered sections, so each chapter is one section here. The work's own text only. The translator's and editor's notes are not transcribed; where a note is nothing but a scripture reference identifying the passage Tertullian quotes, that reference is kept as a link at the note's position. Eleven readings in which the CCEL text departs from the print are corrected to it, each read off the page image.
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Accessed
- 2026-10-01
- License
- public-domain-base
- Public-domain basis
- The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume III, entered according to Act of Congress in 1885 by the Christian Literature Publishing Company; the dated scan is the 1918 Charles Scribner's Sons reprint. Title page and copyright page read by eye off Internet Archive antenicenefather03robe, leaves n6 and n7. A pre-1930 United States publication, public domain on publication date alone, independent of renewal. The translation itself first appeared in the Edinburgh Ante-Nicene Christian Library (T. and T. Clark) in the 1860s and 1870s.
Contents
Chapter 1. It is Not to the Philosophers that We Resort for Information About the Soul But to GodChapter 2. The Christian Has Sure and Simple Knowledge Concerning the Subject Before UsChapter 3. The Soul’s Origin Defined Out of the Simple Words of ScriptureChapter 4. In Opposition to Plato, the Soul Was Created and Originated at BirthChapter 5. Probable View of the Stoics, that the Soul Has a Corporeal NatureChapter 6. The Arguments of the Platonists for the Soul’s Incorporeality, Opposed, Perhaps FrivolouslyChapter 7. The Soul’s Corporeality Demonstrated Out of the GospelsChapter 8. Other Platonist Arguments ConsideredChapter 9. Particulars of the Alleged Communication to a Montanist SisterChapter 10. The Simple Nature of the Soul is Asserted with Plato. The Identity of Spirit and SoulChapter 11. Spirit—A Term Expressive of an Operation of the Soul, Not of Its Nature. To Be Carefully Distinguished from the Spirit of GodChapter 12. Difference Between the Mind and the Soul, and the Relation Between ThemChapter 13. The Soul’s SupremacyChapter 14. The Soul Variously Divided by the Philosophers; This Division is Not a Material DissectionChapter 15. The Soul’s Vitality and Intelligence. Its Character and Seat in ManChapter 16. The Soul’s Parts. Elements of the Rational SoulChapter 17. The Fidelity of the Senses, Impugned by Plato, Vindicated by Christ HimselfChapter 18. Plato Suggested Certain Errors to the Gnostics. Functions of the SoulChapter 19. The Intellect Coeval with the Soul in the Human Being. An Example from Aristotle Converted into Evidence Favourable to These ViewsChapter 20. The Soul, as to Its Nature Uniform, But Its Faculties Variously Developed. Varieties Only AccidentalChapter 21. As Free-Will Actuates an Individual So May His Character ChangeChapter 22. Recapitulation. Definition of the SoulChapter 23. The Opinions of Sundry Heretics Which Originate Ultimately with PlatoChapter 24. Plato’s Inconsistency. He Supposes the Soul Self-Existent, Yet Capable of Forgetting What Passed in a Previous StateChapter 25. Tertullian Refutes, Physiologically, the Notion that the Soul is Introduced After BirthChapter 26. Scripture Alone Offers Clear Knowledge on the Questions We Have Been ControvertingChapter 27. Soul and Body Conceived, Formed and Perfected in Element SimultaneouslyChapter 28. The Pythagorean Doctrine of Transmigration Sketched and CensuredChapter 29. The Pythagorean Doctrine Refuted by Its Own First Principle, that Living Men are Formed from the DeadChapter 30. Further Refutation of the Pythagorean Theory. The State of Contemporary CivilisationChapter 31. Further Exposure of Transmigration, Its Inextricable EmbarrassmentChapter 32. Empedocles Increased the Absurdity of Pythagoras by Developing the Posthumous Change of Men into Various AnimalsChapter 33. The Judicial Retribution of These Migrations Refuted with RailleryChapter 34. These Vagaries Stimulated Some Profane Corruptions of Christianity. The Profanity of Simon Magus CondemnedChapter 35. The Opinions of Carpocrates, Another Offset from the Pythagorean Dogmas, Stated and ConfutedChapter 36. The Main Points of Our Author’s Subject. On the Sexes of the Human RaceChapter 37. On the Formation and State of the Embryo. Its Relation with the Subject of This TreatiseChapter 38. On the Growth of the Soul. Its Maturity Coincident with the Maturity of the Flesh in ManChapter 39. The Evil Spirit Has Marred the Purity of the Soul from the Very BirthChapter 40. The Body of Man Only Ancillary to the Soul in the Commission of EvilChapter 41. Notwithstanding the Depravity of Man’s Soul by Original Sin, There is Yet Left a Basis Whereon Divine Grace Can Work for Its Recovery by Spiritual RegenerationChapter 42. Sleep, the Mirror of Death, as Introductory to the Consideration of DeathChapter 43. Sleep a Natural Function as Shown by Other Considerations, and by the Testimony of ScriptureChapter 44. The Story of Hermotimus, and the Sleeplessness of the Emperor Nero. No Separation of the Soul from the Body Until DeathChapter 45. Dreams, an Incidental Effect of the Soul’s Activity. EcstasyChapter 46. Diversity of Dreams and Visions. Epicurus Thought Lightly of Them, Though Generally Most Highly Valued. Instances of DreamsChapter 47. Dreams Variously Classified. Some are God-Sent, as the Dreams of Nebuchadnezzar; Others Simply Products of NatureChapter 48. Causes and Circumstances of Dreams. What Best Contributes to Efficient DreamingChapter 49. No Soul Naturally Exempt from DreamsChapter 50. The Absurd Opinion of Epicurus and the Profane Conceits of the Heretic Menander on Death, Even Enoch and Elijah Reserved for DeathChapter 51. Death Entirely Separates the Soul from the BodyChapter 52. All Kinds of Death a Violence to Nature, Arising from Sin.—Sin an Intrusion Upon Nature as God Created ItChapter 53. The Entire Soul Being Indivisible Remains to the Last Act of Vitality; Never Partially or Fractionally Withdrawn from the BodyChapter 54. Whither Does the Soul Retire When It Quits the Body? Opinions of Philosophers All More or Less Absurd. The Hades of PlatoChapter 55. The Christian Idea of the Position of Hades; The Blessedness of Paradise Immediately After Death. The Privilege of the MartyrsChapter 56. Refutation of the Homeric View of the Soul’s Detention from Hades Owing to the Body’s Being Unburied. That Souls Prematurely Separated from the Body Had to Wait for Admission into Hades Also RefutedChapter 57. Magic and Sorcery Only Apparent in Their Effects. God Alone Can Raise the DeadChapter 58. Conclusion. Points Postponed. All Souls are Kept in Hades Until the Resurrection, Anticipating Their Ultimate Misery or Bliss