ANCIENT PHYSICIANS ON HEALTH AND CAUSES OF DESEASES
Evgeniy Vasilyevich Afonasin1,2
1Novosibirsk National Research State University, 2, Pirogov st., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
2Institute Philosophy and Law SB RAS, 8, Nikolaeva st., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
Keywords: эмпирическая наука, история медицины, Филолай, Алкмеон, Гиппократ, Гален, empirical sciences, the history of medicine, Alcmeon, Philolaus, Hippocrates, Galen
Abstract
In the article, we study the evolution of Ancient concept of health and the causes of disease. We start with the earliest natural philosophers (mostly based on the Anonymous Londinensis medical papyrus) and conclude with a study of Galen’s De morborum differentiis (VI.836-880 K.). Health is invariably defined as a condition, which is in accord with nature, while disease is that which is contrary to nature. Our major concern is to discuss how this definition influenced consequent distinction between ‘natural’ and ‘non-natural’, ‘contrary to nature’ and ‘in accord with nature’, and in general, norm and deviation.
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