This theological and philological commentary provides a detailed description of Augustine's
argument and reveals the areas where Augustine misrepresents or oversimplifies Porphyry's
thought in the Deregressu animae and other works. This work establishes a new foundation for
any future work on Porphyry's Deregressu animae. Via comparison with Porphyry's extant Greek
works and fragments the commentary sheds light on seven key topics in Augustine's
presentation: 1) the 'spiritual soul ' 2) the nature of theurgy 3) the report that Porphyry
attributes passsiones to the gods 4) the coherence of the De regressu animae with Porphyry's
other works in particular his De philosophia ex oraculis and Epistula ad Anebontem 5) the
report on the purifying principia 6) Porphyry's views on reincarnation and 7) the universal
way of salvation.
