Many years after “Hippocrates” lived, Galen described the true physician’s profession as a combination of theory and practice and held Hippocrates up as an example. The true physician must not only know what to do, but be able to defend his actions by supporting them with a theoretical explanation. This idea that the professional practitioner of Western scientific medicine should have both theoretical and practical training still characterizes the ideal AMA-certified M.D.

Use examples from the assigned readings from units III.A and III.B to ceate an essay that supports Galen’s characterization of the Hippocratic physician as trained in both medical skill (practice) and natural philosophy (theory).

III.A Book: Hippocratic Writing by Penguin Classics (Oath, The Cannon, The Science of Medicine, Prognosis, The Sacred Disease, Regimen for Health)

III.B Book: same book as above (Tradition in Medicine, Airs Waters Places, Dreams, Nature of Man)