Hippocrates: The Great “Father of Medicine”

Hippocrates, was born on the Greek island of Kos around 460 BC, was the most famous physician of ancient Greece. He carefully observed symptoms and reasoned about the natural causes of disease; he built up a vast corpus of knowledge in anatomy and physiology, recorded in numerous works. During his life, he practiced medicine and also taught it to others. His students included many women as well as men who came from all over Greece to study with him.

Hippocrates is known as the Father of Medicine

He is considered the “Father of Medicine” and is regarded by scientists as the founder of scientific medicine. He came from a family of aristocratic physicians who claimed to be descendants of Podalirius, son of Asclepius, the god of medicine from Thessaly.

He is known for his contribution to the consolidation of the medical profession and for his works of priceless scientific value; to these will be added the writings of many of his students and followers, most of which are anonymous, thus forming a wide range of works, often attributed entirely to Hippocrates.

Above all, we owe to Hippocrates the principle of searching for the causes of a disease after a diagnosis has been made based on a set of clinical signs. Contrary to the customs of his time, he established and even confirmed rationalism in the field of medicine, without invoking the gods or magic to understand or cure diseases.

Hippocrates’ oath

The Oath attributed to Hippocrates is included in his Corpus Hippocraticum and is the “Bible” of medical ethics. It used to be recited by doctors and referred to the ethical practice of medicine. For several years, doctors during their graduation ceremony took the Hippocratic Oath, according to which the patient is the primary concern of the doctor.

The Declaration of Geneva was the modern successor to the 2500-year-old Hippocratic Oath. First adopted by the World Medical Association (WMA) in 1948, the Declaration briefly outlined the professional duties of physicians and the ethical principles of the medical profession. In this version there was no longer any invocation of the ancient gods, but medical confidentiality was and is still maintained today. Recently the Geneva Declaration has been modernized once again.

Hippocrates’ scientific approach

Hippocrates founded a medical school on the island of Kos, which brought an intellectual revolution in medicine in ancient Greece. He made medicine a distinct and autonomous field of knowledge separating it from other scientific subjects, such as theology and philosophy, and established it as a profession.

Although the Hippocratic approach to medicine was overtaken by scientific developments in the 19th century and onward, the figure and work of Hippocrates reappeared, mainly as symbols and historical references in the medical domain, but of course also among historians and classicists.

The environment and diet main causes of a disease

Hippocrates was noted for his belief that disease came about because of factors such as environment and diet rather than because of angry gods. He believed that the patient’s condition was affected by the seasons, weather and geography. He was the first person to say that disease is caused by these factors and he also said that physicians should not treat patients with pointless medications that wouldn’t help their patients get better.

Hippocrates, such a great figure

Hippocrates was a reference point throughout his lifetime, while even today, he is the figure who continues to inspire physicians and researchers around the world and his work has influenced generations of doctors. The impact he had on medicine cannot be overstated, but it’s also important to remember that he wasn’t perfect.

“Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.”

Sources: LAROUSSE and Grèce Hebdo

 

Master the Greek language and unlock a world of historical and philosophical wisdom throgh our eBook.

 

Who is your favorite ancient Greek figure? How they inspire you? Let me know in the comments.