Hippocrates

From Philosopedia

- Roman portrait bust by unknown sculptor

Hippocrates (c. 460—c. 370 B.C.E.)

Hippocrates, the Greek physician recognized as the father of medicine, was an early empiricist. He is sometimes confused with Hippocrates of Chios, who wrote the first known geometry textbook.

The son of a physician, Hippocrates is thought to have traveled widely and may have studied in Athens. The Hippocratic or Coan school that he attracted was known for separating medicine from philosophic speculation and superstition. The medical practice was strictly scientific, emphasizing critical deductive reasoning and objective observation. One's health was maintained by a proper diet and good hygiene - the patient's welfare was foremost. Hippocrates wrote no books but, according to Plato, he taught that to treat any one physical problem the entire body needed to be taken into account.

According to G. E. R. Lloyd's editing of Hippocratic Writings (1978), an essay entitled "On Ancient Medicine" discussed the connection between theory and practice, ideas developed by Plato that led to Aristotle's discussion of the "mean."

The Cnidian school at that time differed, holding that, although the patient deserved to be treated, the emphasis for doctors was to properly diagnose and classify diseases.

Materials called the Hippocratic Writing or Hippocratic Corpus describe the treatment and cure of physical problems, and it is possible Hippocrates wrote some of them. In the collection are found theoretical works with Ionian cosmological overtones similar to the views of Xenophanes and using the Sophists' argumentative techniques.

The Hippocratic Oath is probably of Pythagorean origin, but it has no supernatural overtones and prescribes that the physician is here “not to harm but to help.” The oath tells the patient's right to privacy and asks the physician to lead an honorable personal and professional life, prescribing treatments only for curative purposes.

The Hippocratic Oath

I swear by Æsculapius, Hygeia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgement, the following Oath. To consider dear to me as my parents him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and if necessary to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art if they so desire without fee or written promise; to impart to my sons and the sons of the master who taught me and the disciples who have enrolled themselves and have agreed to the rules of the profession, but to these alone the precepts and the instruction.

I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.

To please no one will I prescribe a deadly drug nor give advice which may cause his death.

Nor will I give a woman a pessary to procure abortion.

But I will preserve the purity of my life and my art.

I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.

In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.

All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.

If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot.

{CE}