Medicine before Science
The Business of Medicine from the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment

An introductory history of university-trained physicians from the middle ages to the eighteenth century.

Roger French (Author)

9780521007610, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 20 February 2003

296 pages
22.9 x 15.3 x 2.1 cm, 0.47 kg

'… well-written and interesting … As the final work in a long and illustrious career, Medicine before Science plays and important role in our understanding of medieval and early modern medical beliefs and practices.' History

This book offers an introduction to the history of university-trained physicians from the middle ages to the eighteenth-century Enlightenment. These were the elite, in reputation and rewards, and they were successful. Yet we can form little idea of their clinical effectiveness, and to modern eyes their theory and practice often seems bizarre. But the historical evidence is that they were judged on other criteria, and the argument of this book is that these physicians helped to construct the expectations of society - and met them accordingly. The main focus is on the European Latin tradition of medicine, reconstructed from ancient sources and relying heavily on natural philosophy for its explanatory power. This philosophy collapsed in the 'scientific revolution', and left the learned and rational doctor in crisis. The book concludes with an examination of how this crisis was met - or avoided - in different parts of Europe during the Enlightenment.

Introduction
Part I. Sources: 1. Hippocrates and the philosophers
2. Galen
Part II. The Latin Tradition: 3. Medieval schools
4. Scholastic medicine
5. The weakening of the Latin tradition
Part III. The Crisis: 6. The crisis of theory
7. Resolutions
8. Enlightenment, systems and science
Select bibliography.

Subject Areas: History of medicine [MBX], History of ideas [JFCX], Social & cultural history [HBTB], Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH], Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500 [HBLC], European history [HBJD]