Home – Home – Jornals – Philosophy of Sciences 2015 number 2

The paper studies the concept of "homoeomeries" in Galen's natural philosophy system. The analysis of some historical and philosophical reconstructions shows that the term "homoeomeries" ("seeds") was proposed by Anaxagoras of Clazomenae; then it was used by Aristotle to describe a primary (elementary) start containing absolute "macro" and "micro" sizes. Thus, Anaxagoras's term "homoeomeries" in Aristotle’s interpretation refers to first elements of life, but at the same time "homoeomeries" (seeds) are seen as its limit; it is a set of homogenous qualities which make a thing what it is. In the aspect of the history and philosophy of medicine, the author analyzes Galen's works ("In Hippocratis de natura hominis librum commentarii iii", "Ars medica", "De constitutione artis medicae ad Patrophilum") where the doctrine of homoeomeries which is fundamental for the whole system of Galen's natural philosophy is presented. He raises a question if Galen's views correspond to ideas about homoeomeries which are well-established in the history of philosophy. The author points out a significant difference between interpretations of the term by various philosophers of antiquity and its treatment by Galen who shared Aristotle's view on the matter. Galen needed the natural philosophy system to comprehend fully what is the structure of the human body and how its vital functions realize, as well as how diseases spring up and develop and how to treat them. Galen believed that all these facts should be explained within a certain philosophical (i.e. general scientific) system. Reasonable character of function which underlies the understanding of predestination which the Creator laid in the structure of various organs and tissues just determines Galen's approach to the idea of homoeomeries as the smallest parts which form these organs and tissues.