Hippocrates | Course Description:
Disease and healing in the human body is a fascinating topic, and one about which nearly everyone is guaranteed to have strong feelings and opinions. The slow advance of medical knowledge throughout the ages had some unfortunate setbacks, and a lot of grisly standard practices, but it is ultimately the uplifting story of humanity's efforts to care for the suffering and to unravel some of the knottiest problems the human intellect has ever faced. This course examines a variety of texts (ranging from dramatic and religious texts to scientific treatises) that will allow us to approach the study of ancient medicine and medical science from a variety of angles. Student participation is crucial, and the syllabus has been designed to allow every student a chance to steer the discussion towards matters that interest her. |