Event Title
Start Date
18-4-2018 10:30 AM
End Date
18-4-2018 11:45 AM
Disciplines
Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity | European History | History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
Subjects
Galen, Galen. On the therapeutic method, Ancient medicine -- Greece -- History, Greek and Roman medicine -- Philosophy
Description
Analyzing the works of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, this paper reveals the specific influences each of the three had upon Galen’s medical practice, asserting that the influence of philosophy was ultimately responsible for distinguishing Galen from his contemporaries. Drawing from various primary sources, including Plato’s “The Apology,” Timaeus and The Republic, as well as Aristotle’s Physics, and comparing them to Galen’s works, “The Art of Medicine” and “A Method of Medicine to Glaucon,” numerous similarities are revealed between the works of Galen and those of the philosophical trio. By evaluating these many connections among the works, as well as using secondary sources to affirm them, the influence of philosophy on Galen’s work is indisputable. Although many would argue that it was Hippocrates who most significantly influenced Galen and his medical practice, this paper asserts that the power trio from Classical Athens- Socrates, Plato and Aristotle- was most responsible for Galen’s success and legacy, lasting for nearly fifteen centuries.
Persistent Identifier
http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/24772
Included in
Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons, European History Commons, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Commons
Galen: The Philosophical Physician
Analyzing the works of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, this paper reveals the specific influences each of the three had upon Galen’s medical practice, asserting that the influence of philosophy was ultimately responsible for distinguishing Galen from his contemporaries. Drawing from various primary sources, including Plato’s “The Apology,” Timaeus and The Republic, as well as Aristotle’s Physics, and comparing them to Galen’s works, “The Art of Medicine” and “A Method of Medicine to Glaucon,” numerous similarities are revealed between the works of Galen and those of the philosophical trio. By evaluating these many connections among the works, as well as using secondary sources to affirm them, the influence of philosophy on Galen’s work is indisputable. Although many would argue that it was Hippocrates who most significantly influenced Galen and his medical practice, this paper asserts that the power trio from Classical Athens- Socrates, Plato and Aristotle- was most responsible for Galen’s success and legacy, lasting for nearly fifteen centuries.
Description
Honorable Mention, Karen E. Hoppes Young Historians Award for Outstanding Research and Writing.