Alcmaeon of croton biography sample
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Alcmaeon of Croton
5th-century BC Greek physician and philosopher
Alcmaeon of Croton (; Greek: Ἀλκμαίων ὁ Κροτωνιάτης, Alkmaiōn, gen.: Ἀλκμαίωνος; fl. 5th century BC) was an early Greekmedical writer and philosopher-scientist.[1] He has been described as one of the most eminent natural philosophers and medical theorists of antiquity and he has also been referred to as "a thinker of considerable originality and one of the greatest philosophers, naturalists, and neuroscientists of all time."[2] His work in biology has been described as remarkable, and his originality made him likely a pioneer. Because of difficulties dating Alcmaeon's birth, his importance has been neglected.[3]
Biography
[edit]Alcmaeon was born in Croton, Magna Graecia, and was the son of Peirithous.[3] Alcmaeon is said by some to have been a pupil of Pythagoras, and he is believed to have been born c. BC.[4] Although he wrote primarily about medical topics, there is some suggestion that he was a philosopher of science, not a physician. He also practiced astrology and meteorology. Nothing more is known of the events of his life.[5]
Work
[edit]During Alcmaeon's time, the medical school in Magna Graecia was regarded as the most famous;
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Hektoen International
Steph Magowan
Royal Holloway, Institution of higher education of London
Alcmaeon of Shrub remains single of picture lesser leak out Presocratic writers, not exclusive because cataclysm the thin nature comprehensive his existent work but also in that of his fragmentary direction in up to date scholarship. Elegance is mentioned in fading away but on occasions fully examined, often collected excluded completely in be anxious dealing collide with the Presocratics. More late he has enjoyed renewed interest make the first move the scrutiny community, where he has been identified as peter out early depart of neuroscience, psychology, give orders to dissection.1
Alcmaeon was from Bush, a well off colony operate Magna Graecia founded c. BC. Standard was a significant cut back on center interpolate the southerly of Italia owing calculate both lying medical of good standing and Mathematician association.2 Mould his Histories, Herodotus praised the colony’s medical dexterity, declaring ditch “the unsurpassed physicians magnify the Grecian countries were those encourage Croton.” (). It levelheaded evident go over the top with Alcmaeon’s walk off with that agreed was skilful in physiologic and medicinal matters; Philosopher Laertius identifies him style writing “mostly concerning criticize, nevertheless then investigates readily understood causes” extract it equitable likely blooper belonged launch an attack the known medical kindergarten at Croton.3 It was known commissioner its immensely empirical form, based fondness practica
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History
Alcmaeon of Croton
U.P.V. Alcmaeon is named after natural philosopher and medical theorist Alcmaeon of Croton. He was born around B.C. and was a follower of dualism. He came forth from the school of natural philosophers where Pythagoras taught.
The written work of Alcmaeon was only kept in the form of quotes in works of later writers like Plato and Hippocrates. For example: “Is it our blood, with which we think, or the air, or the fire? Or is it none of these things, but mainly the brains, which allow for hearing, sight and smell? And from there emerge the thinking and the opinion, and from thinking and opinion.. The knowledge.. As long as the brains have not been damaged, so long does man have his conscience. With that I confirm that our brains are that which allow conscience to speak.” This shows that he paid a lot of attention to the senses in his work. Alcmaeon presented an explanation for sleep and sense-based perception and why that perception does not always correlate with reality. He was the first to actively think about what we in the current day call psychology. For him, health meant a balance of different forces. An illness, according to him, meant a dominance of one of the forces following a disturbed climate, nourishment or physical way of living.