ANGLO-DUTCH WELLCOME SYMPOSIUM ON ANCIENT MEDICINE

The Hippocratic Tradition Reconsidered

Aim of the Conference

In 1979 Wesley D. Smith (Professor Emeritus of Classical Studies, The University of Philadelphia) published The Hippocratic Tradition (a free copy of the book can be downloaded from http://www.bium.univ-paris5.fr/amn/, see Œdocuments¹) Now, 25 years later, the moment has come to reconsider the questions he has raised, in the light of recent research. How was the Hippocratic Tradition established and how was the Hippocratic Myth, formed subsequently? How did it influence medical practice? It is time to reconsider the formation of the Hippocratic Tradition in the light of recent research from Mesopotamian and Egyptian medicine onwards, until the 18th century, the last century when Hippocratic medicine still had actual relevance in Western society. The relationship to the medical practice and theory of the Egyptian and the Mesopotamian world should be considered in view of the traditional claims that Hippocratic medicine has been superior to them both in attitude and in method.

For the full programme and registration see: http://www.gltc.leidenuniv.nl

II. FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT & CALL FOR PAPERS

 XIIth Colloquium Hippocraticum

Universiteit Leiden, 24, 25 and 26 August, 2005

Medical Education

Training of doctors, midwives, and other medical professionals and amateurs; teaching in theory and practice; the role of the oral and written tradition in medicine; the role of medicine in general education; the social status of teachers and pupils; the influence of ancient medicine in later medical education; such are only a few of the possible topics that come readily to the mind when one thinks of education in ancient medicine.

The XIIth Colloquium Hippocraticum will be dedicated to the theme of medical education in Antiquity and the way in which it contributed to the medical education in later periods. We invite proposals for papers but we are also looking for scholars willing to organize a panel about relevant themes. Contributions by young scholars are very welcome. Specialists in other medical traditions and medical anthropologists are especially encouraged to participate in order to stimulate the comparative perspective.

We envisage three main fields of interest:

 I. Philosophy
Theory and practice, empiricism, experiments, theoretical concepts.

 II. Practice
Schools, sects, the formation of the curriculum, theory and practice, the formation of the canon, literacy and orality, status of masters and pupils, anatomy, handbooks, catechism (questions/answers), access to training and education.

 III. Tradition
The role of tradition in medical education, the role of commentaries

Proposals for papers (max. 1 A4, 30 minutes) and/or panel sessions may be submitted by 15 January 2005. N.B. The deadline for submittance has been extended from 1 December 2004 to 15 January 2005.

Organizing Committee:
Bert van den Berg (Ancient Philosophy)
Harm Beukers (History of Medicine)
Manfred Horstmanshoff (Ancient History)

For all information see: http://www.gltc.leidenuniv.nl

... seen on the MedAnt list

::Friday, November 26, 2004 4:58:40 AM::