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Tertullian's Attitude Towards the Human Foetus and Embryo

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Tertullian's Attitude Towards the Human Foetus and Embryo Tertullian’s Attitude towards the Human Foetus and Embryo Julian Andrew Barr BA, Honours (Class 1) A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2014. School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics 1 Abstract Much of the current scholarship on Tertullian’s attitude towards offspring in utero has examined the issue in light of the modern abortion debate. Traditionally, modern commentators on the history of abortion have discussed passages from Tertullian concerning the unborn child in isolation, paying no attention to their original context. Such reductionism has resulted in a diminution of Tertullian’s attitude towards the unborn child to a simplified dogma. Scholars have frequently constructed Tertullian as an absolutist opponent of abortion at all stages of pregnancy, overlooking the finer subtleties of his views. This thesis provides a more accurate picture by examining Tertullian’s rhetorical aims, his deft use of Greco-Roman medical sources, and his engagement with Christian and Roman cultural preconceptions regarding the foetus and embryo. Tertullian’s views on the unborn child should be considered in the context of his aims and methods as a writer of rhetoric. When Tertullian’s treatises are analysed in terms of their rhetorical structure, it becomes clear that abortion was never an over-riding concern for him. Rather, he used abortion and the figure of the unborn child to help prove or disprove specific arguments, none of which related to abortion directly. This study also considers the context of previous Christian writing on the status of the human embryo and foetus. When placed alongside earlier patristic authors, it is clear that Tertullian borrowed his denunciation of abortion as a form of infanticide from a pre-existing Christian tradition. Several Christian sources prior to Tertullian, such as the Didache, Clement of Alexandria, and Athenagoras had denounced abortion as an act of homicide on the basis of Scripture. Tertullian was innovative, however, in that he was the first Christian writer to construe abortion explicitly as murder for the entire duration of gestation. Though Tertullian was not the first Christian writer to argue against abortion, he was the first to incorporate ideas from medical authors in his rhetoric, especially Soranus of Ephesus. Yet Tertullian did not consistently follow any particular paradigm of prenatal development. Instead, he alternately borrowed, adapted, and rejected embryological theories according to their usefulness to support his arguments. At times, he freely borrowed from Aristotle’s theory of generation, arguing on this basis that the embryo only gained personhood during the process of gestation. Finally, the thesis argues that Tertullian’s condemnation of abortion owed something to the pagan as well as Christian world. As a Roman author, Tertullian wrote in a literary culture whose attitude towards abortion was overwhelmingly negative. Although Tertullian presented himself as being hostile towards Roman tradition, he often borrowed the Latin trope where women who defied 2 their husbands were characterised as practitioners of abortion. Moreover, Stoic opposition to abortion perhaps influenced Tertullian. It is also highly unlikely that Tertullian influenced the emperors Septimius Severus and Caracalla regarding the legality of abortion. This study thus demonstrates that, in order to understand Tertullian’s attitude towards unborn children fully, his works must be analysed in context and against the backdrop of Roman family tradition. 3 Declaration by author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my research higher degree candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the General Award Rules of The University of Queensland, immediately made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Where appropriate I have obtained copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce material in this thesis. 4 Publications during candidature Barr, J. 2012. ‘Sallust: Corrupt Politician and Historian.’ Crossroads 6: 58-63. Publications included in this thesis “No publications included” Contributions by others to the thesis “No contributions by others” Statement of parts of the thesis submitted to qualify for the award of another degree “None” 5 Acknowledgements I wish to acknowledge the assistance and support of several people. Firstly, I’d like to thank my advisor, Dr. Janette McWilliam, who introduced me to the idea of studying Roman childhood, and has patiently supervised my research over the past three years. Thanks are also due to all the Classics staff at the University of Queensland. My associate advisor, Dr. Tom Stevenson, first suggested that Tertullian might be an appropriate focus for my research, for which I am very grateful. Dr. Amelia Brown, Dr. Caillan Davenport, Mr. Denis Brosnan, Mr. Murray Kane, Dr. David Pritchard, and Dr. Luca Asmonti have also been very generous with their time and expertise, broadening and deepening my understanding of ancient languages as well as many other aspects of antiquity. What’s more, it has been an absolute pleasure to be part of the postgraduate community at UQ’s School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics. I thank each and every one of its members for providing such a great working environment. Special thanks are also due to Prof. Bob Milns, Prof. John Whitehorne, Dr. Sonia Puttock, and Prof. Rick Strelan, whose advice has proven invaluable. I deeply appreciate the financial support I have received through the Australian Postgraduate Award, the UQ Grad School’s startup grant, and the Queensland Friends of the Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens. I have also had the pleasure of corresponding with Dr. Zubin Mistry of University College London about Tertullian’s impact upon medieval thought, in anticipation of his forthcoming book. I have also enjoyed my correspondence with Dr. Tommy Heyne (MD) about Tertullian’s approach to medicine. Dr. Heyne very kindly provided me a copy of his 2011 article on the subject, which has proven very helpful for this thesis. The diligent proofreading efforts of my friends, Mr. Chris Spensley, Dr. Hollie Thomas, and Dr. Katherine Harper, have helped me enormously. I would also particularly like to thank Ms. Johanna Qualmann for her outstanding support over the last eighteen months. She is an excellent proofreader, babysitter, and friend. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the support and fortitude of all my friends and family. Not one but two sets of parents have provided me endless encouragement as well as practical assistance. But without my beloved wife, Kelly, none of this would have been possible—you are my inspiration. Mischief managed! 6 Keywords Tertullian, Christian ethics, abortion, medicine, unborn, foetus, embryo, soul, rhetoric Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classifications (ANZSRC) ANZSRC code: 210306, Classical Greek and Roman History, 100% Fields of Research (FoR) Classification FoR code: 2103, Historical Studies, 100% 7 Table of Contents List of Abbreviations Used in the Thesis ................................................................................................ 9 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 10 Chapter I: Rhetoric and the Unborn ..................................................................................................... 37 Chapter II: The Christian Context ....................................................................................................... 102 Chapter III: Tertullian’s Understanding of Prenatal Biology .............................................................. 152 Chapter IV: The Pagan Context ........................................................................................................... 172 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 211 Bibliography ........................................................................................................................................ 214 8 List of Abbreviations Used in the Thesis Generally, this thesis employs the abbreviations used in the Oxford Classical Dictionary. Biblical texts are abbreviated according to the Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Edition. Abbreviations
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