De anima

work by Gundisalvo

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

De anima ("On the Soul") is a work by Domingo Gundisalvo, a 12th-century Spanish philosopher and archdeacon of Segovia. His writings contributed to the integration of Christian philosophy with ancient Greek thought.1

In De anima, Gundisalvo explores the concept of the soul and argues for its natural immortality, a view that influenced later Scholastic philosophers at the University of Paris. His work reflects the Neoplatonic school of Chartres and the mystical tradition of the Abbey of St. Victor in Paris. Gundisalvo also sought to harmonize Neoplatonic-Arabic doctrines with Christian teachings on creation.1

Aristotle also wrote a significant treatise titled De anima, which is a foundational work in the philosophy of mind, exploring the nature of the soul and its faculties in living beings.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Domingo Gundisalvo
Two of his works, De anima (“On the Soul”) and De immortalitate animae (“On the Immortality of the Soul”), suggest the Neoplatonic argument for the soul’s natural immortality that markedly influenced later Scholastic philosophers—e.g., Bonaventure and Albertus Magnus—at the University of Paris.
Read More
Two of his works, De anima (“On the Soul”) and De immortalitate animae (“On the Immortality of the Soul”), suggest the Neoplatonic argument for the soul’s natural immortality that markedly influenced later Scholastic philosophers—e.g., Bonaventure and Albertus Magnus—at the University of Paris.
Read More