The Nature of Monstrous Births and the Immortality of the Soul

Monstrous births are caused by natural and divine factors, while the soul's immortality and resurrection are discussed in Aristotle's masterpiece.

### Aristotle's Masterpiece: Marriage, Conception, and the Immortality of the Soul
* 👰 Aristotle's masterpiece discusses marriage, stating that "**marriage is honorable to all**" and that parents should not violently restrain their children's inclinations but provide **suitable matches to prevent them from committing follies**.
* 🤰 It explains that maids are inclined to marriage when they reach puberty, usually around **14-15 years of age**, as their bodies begin to desire **venereal embraces**.
* 👶 The text elaborates on how to conceive a male or female child, suggesting that **diet can influence the sex of the child** and that the best time to conceive a female child is when the **moon is in the waning phase in Libra or Aquarius**.
* ♂ It discusses the formation of the child in the womb, with males generally being **perfect by the 30th day** and females by the **42nd-45th day**, due to the **greater heat of the womb in producing males**.
* 🧠 The text delves into the reasons why children resemble their parents, attributing it to the **mother's imagination** and stating that children are commonly of the **same condition as their parents**.
* 💀 It addresses the immortality of the soul, asserting that "**man's soul is of so divine a nature and excellency that man himself cannot comprehend it**" and that the soul is **infused by its creator and cannot die or corrupt**.
* 👹 The text briefly discusses monsters and monstrous births, attributing them to **depraved conceptions** and stating that the divine cause of monsters is **God's permissive will**.
* 👼 It also touches on whether monsters are endowed with **reasonable souls**, suggesting that the body is often a sign of the **pollution of the heart**.

### The Causes, Influences, and Remedies of Childbirth and Fertility According to Pseudo-Aristotle
* 🤰 Pseudo-Aristotle discusses the causes of monstrous births, attributing them to **defects in the seed, womb, or imagination at conception**.
* 👶 He shares various historical anecdotes and beliefs related to monstrous births, such as the **influence of adulterous thoughts and actions**.
* 🧠 According to Pseudo-Aristotle, the imagination plays a significant role in childbirth, as seen in examples like a woman giving birth to a child with a blemish after a **drop of blood falls on her face**.
* 👩 He also delves into the topic of fertility, mentioning that children born from **unnatural unions** are often **heavy, dull, and sluggish**.
* 🌡 Pseudo-Aristotle provides remedies for barrenness and the "green sickness" in women, suggesting treatments such as **fumigations, purges, and strengthening the womb**.
* ❓ He addresses common questions and misconceptions about childbirth, such as whether children born within seven months can be **perfect and long-lived**.
* 👫 Pseudo-Aristotle emphasizes the importance of marriage, describing it as the "**happiest condition**" and discussing the **potential causes of errors in marriages**.
* 📜 The text also includes references to **biblical and mythological stories** to support its **arguments and conclusions**.

### Pseudo-Aristotle's Guide to Parenting, Virginity, and Midwifery
* 👶 Pseudo-Aristotle suggests that wise parents may still have foolish children due to the parents' mental faculties being **confused by multiple cares and thoughts**. For example, learned men often have foolish children after great study and care, highlighting the **complexity of heredity**.
* 🌬 According to Pseudo-Aristotle, a hot and moist air is most suitable for childbirth, as seen in Egypt where women often give birth to **three or four children at once**.
* 👰 Pseudo-Aristotle delves into the concept of virginity, clearing up misconceptions and emphasizing its **importance in maintaining the honor of women**. Virginity is described as the **prime, chief, and best of anything**, signifying **purity and virtue**.
* He explains that the hymen, often referred to as the "**claustrum virginale**," is a membrane composed of four buds that can be accidentally **ruptured in various ways other than sexual intercourse**.
* 🤰 Pseudo-Aristotle discusses the belief in the "**change of sex in the womb**," where he and others like Galen suggest that **nature can convert a male fetus into a female or vice versa** during pregnancy.
* 🤱 In the chapter dedicated to midwifery, Pseudo-Aristotle provides detailed directions and cautions for midwives, emphasizing the **importance of their qualifications, conduct, and knowledge**.
* 👩 He stresses that midwives should be **cautious, polite, affable**, and above all, possess the **fear of God** to guide their actions.
* Pseudo-Aristotle concludes the treatise by offering advice to both sexes on copulation for procreation. He suggests **stimulating the body with restoratives**, **avoiding excess**, and **meeting each other with equal ardor** to increase the chances of conception.

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Aristotle's Views on Marriage and Procreation

Aristotle's "Masterpiece" discusses the honor of marriage and the natural desire for it in young people.

It also talks about the signs of readiness for marriage in young women and the age at which they are capable of conceiving.

The book covers the capability of both men and women for procreation, as well as the factors influencing the sex of the child.

Natural Methods for Gender Selection and Child Conception

Certain foods and post-coital actions are believed to influence the gender of the child during conception.

The formation of the child in the womb is described in four stages, with males being typically formed faster than females.

Different opinions on the posture of the child in the womb are discussed, including the position of the hands, head, and legs.

The Influence of Parental Imagination on Child Development

The mother's imagination can strongly impact the physical features of a child, based on where she focuses her attention during pregnancy.

The vigor of the parents during conception can affect the nature and inclination of the child.

The ancient belief in the woman's significant contribution to the child's procreation has been refuted, as the role of the testicles in women is to nourish eggs, and the primary cause of the child's gender is attributed to God.

The Nature of Human Generation and the Immortality of the Soul

Ancient physicians and philosophers believed that the sex of a child is determined by the force of virtue of the male or female, as well as the menstrual blood of the woman.

They also thought that the child's sex is influenced more by the mother than the father.

However, they lacked understanding of the human body's anatomy, leading to misconceptions.

The soul of man is considered to be of divine nature, infused by the creator, immortal, and not subject to annihilation, with various offices and powers within the body.

The Formation and Immortality of the Infant's Soul

The development of the male and female fetus in the womb is described, with males being perfected earlier than females.

The belief that the reasonable soul is infused by the Almighty when the child has its perfect form is discussed, emphasizing its immortality and divine nature.

The soul's residence in the body and its role in enlivening the senses and faculties are debated, with a focus on its immortality and the certainty of resurrection.

The Causes of Monstrous Births According to Pseudo-Aristotle

Monsters are believed to be the result of depraved conceptions and are attributed to divine or natural causes.

The generation of these monsters is explained through the defects or excesses in the mother, seed, womb, and the act of copulation, often believed to be a punishment for defying nature.

Unnatural copulation during a woman's menses is highlighted as a significant factor in producing monstrous births, with a specific example cited in Flanders.

The Reasoning Behind the Capability of Resurrection for Deformed Monsters

According to Divine and positions, deformed monsters born from human means are believed to have a reasonable soul and capable of resurrection.

On the other hand, monsters not begotten by humans are considered to perish without a reasonable soul.

There is a debate about whether monsters can be engendered by an infernal spirit, with a reference to the belief that the devil could beget offspring, which is contradictory to religious and natural beliefs.

The Importance of Virtuous Wives and Errors in Marriage

A virtuous and loving wife brings greater joy and contentment to her husband, while an unsatisfied and hypocritical wife causes ruin and misery.

Marrying too young or with a significant age gap can lead to physical and emotional difficulties, impacting the success of the marriage.

It is crucial for individuals to consider the suitability and virtue of their potential spouse to prevent errors and ensure a harmonious marriage.

The Controversy of a Seven-Month-Old Child's Birth

A passage from "Aristotle's Masterpiece" discusses the controversy of a child born at seven months, using physical characteristics to determine the timing of the birth.

The text also delves into the importance of maternal health for the well-being of children and the use of copulation to alleviate the green sickness in virgins.

The passage emphasizes the significance of matrimonial conjunction for women's health and the natural flow of menses.

Bleeding and purging are recommended for treating barrenness, with a focus on the woman's preparation and diet.

Barrenness can be caused by various factors, including the quality of the seed, the condition of the womb, and the balance of constitution between man and woman.

Different signs and causes of barrenness are identified, with specific remedies such as fumigation and the use of natural brimstone to test fertility.

Various treatments are prescribed based on the potential causes, including addressing heat or cold imbalances in the body and strengthening the womb.

- A herbal remedy is described involving a variety of ingredients like spices, roots, and oils, aimed at addressing women's health issues and promoting fertility.

- The text outlines specific instructions for various treatments, including decoctions, infusions, and pessaries, to address barrenness and promote conception.

- The importance of environmental factors, mental well-being, and timing for conception is emphasized, along with the avoidance of excess and the impact of air quality on childbirth.

The Virginity Myth and Misconceptions About Genitalia

The rupture of the hymen is not a reliable sign of virginity, as it can occur through various means other than sexual intercourse.

The belief that female genital organs can change into male organs is based on mistaken observations and inexpert midwifery.

Pseudo-Aristotle discusses the qualifications of a midwife, emphasizing the importance of caution, diligence, and compassion in her work.

The Duties of a Midwife According to Pseudo-Aristotle

Midwives are advised to constantly seek knowledge and avoid experimenting with unproven methods.

They are warned against performing abortions and urged to be cautious of infectious cases.

Midwives are instructed to maintain composure, provide necessary assistance, and prevent unruly behavior during labor to ensure the well-being of the mother and child.

The Fabric of the Womb: A Description by Pseudo-Aristotle

The womb is described as being joined to its neck in the lower part of the body, with a round shape and varying in size among women.

It is interwoven with fibers, veins, arteries, and nerves, and has movable ligaments.

The testicles in women are situated near the womb, but they differ in function, shape, substance, and covering from those in men, being smaller, flatter, and softer.

The ejaculatory vessels in women are described as small passages that are shut up and impassable, adhering to the womb.

The Description of Generative Organs in Women and Men by Pseudo Aristotle

The generative parts in women serve the purposes of sexual intercourse, urine passage, and titillation, while also playing a role in the retention and expulsion of the fetus.

In men, the penis is described as having a function in both urine evacuation and the conveyance of seed, with its erection depending on the filling of nerves and arteries with blood.

The organs of generation in both women and men are intricately described in terms of their anatomy and physiological functions.

The Male Reproductive System Described by Aristotle

Aristotle describes the male reproductive organs, including the penis, testicles, and their functions.

He also explains the role of the prostate gland and the process of seed ejaculation.

Aristotle provides advice for both men and women on how to enhance their sexual performance and increase the chances of conception, emphasizing the importance of mutual desire and careful timing.

The text highlights the belief in the connection between the body's condition during intercourse and the health of the future child, as well as the significance of the woman's post-coital actions in preventing miscarriage.