ALTERCATIO DE ANIMA. - Fragment of a dialogue (?) against traducianism. The author proves from Holy Scripture that souls are created directly by God. The manuscripts and John of Seville (in S. Alvari Cordubensis Opera, Ep. 6: cf. E. Florez, España Sagrada, Madrid 1754-73, XI, p. 143 sg.) attribute it to Ambrose of Milan. The author remains uncertain, but the biblical quotations of the "Vetus Latina" indicate a work from the 5th-6th century.
BIBL.: C. P. Caspari, Kirchenhistorische Anecdota, I, Kritik 1833, pp. 225-47 (edition with notes). Otto Faller