Hippocrates and the hippocratic tradition: Impact on development of medical knowledge and practice?

Abstract

What impact, if any, did Hippocrates and the Hippocratic tradition have on the development of medical knowledge and practice? For some, Hippocrates is the “Father of (Western or Modern) Medicine,” and the Hippocratic tradition provides a framework for the development of contemporary medicine – especially a rational, scientific medicine. Hippocrates and the Hippocratic tradition are not only important in terms of the development of medical knowledge but also its practice, as exemplified by the Hippocratic oath. For others, modern medicine represents a rejection not so much of Hippocrates but only of the Hippocratic tradition, especially its vitalism and humoral theory of health and disease. In this chapter, the impact of Hippocrates and the Hippocratic tradition on the development of medical knowledge is explored first, followed by an examination of how they, especially the oath, shaped medical practice. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the lessons this exploration into Hippocrates and the Hippocratic tradition teach about the future of medical knowledge and practice.