Traditional ancient medicine combined empiricism, religion and natural philosophy to decipher the encrypted messages of a symptomatic body. Hippocrates, however, was very adamant about finding the true causes to disease, using observation and rationality¹. Employing the scientific method and diligent notes, he formed a new foundation for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. The Hippocratic Corpus is a collection of about 60 texts from Ancient Greece, including lectures, and philosophical essays. These works are still the base of modern Western medicine². The texts cover a variety of medical topics, mainly the theories and ethics of Hippocrates. These texts, though, may not have actually been written by Hippocrates, as the true authors of the Corpus are still subject to historical debate³.

Most of the Corpus is made up of case histories, largely consisting of endemic diseases such as colds and pneumonia, where more than half the cases result in patient death⁴. These case studies, as well as many other theories and methodologies, are coupled with the reflections of the ancient physicians who wrote them. These reflections examined the epistemology of medicine and deliberated between the true causes of disease, whether natural or divine. The philosophies underpinning these contemplations were very diverse, but frequently considered the ideologies of empiricism, where knowledge is based on experience, and rationalism, where opinion is based on logic. The ultimate association between knowledge and experience was, thus, deemed a Hippocratic characteristic⁵.

Although the Corpus also speaks of important medical discoveries, such as kidney stone formation, detecting and treating bladder disease, jaundice, empyema, and different dermatologic findings³, one of the biggest achievements of the authoring physicians of the Hippocratic Corpus were the reflections they included. These physicians were never content with just acknowledging their experience, but had a critical need to ponder such experiences and apply it to their already formed mental database. In doing so, it is implied that a physician is never limited to just their senses and experiences, nor any previous knowledge or facts⁵.  It allows for the recognition of the pernicious possibilities of granting too much power to medicine, paving the way for today’s laws of medical ethics. Hippocratic physicians were proactive in their awareness of their own limits and those of medicine, obligating a respect for nature and the application of caution². 

The Hippocratic Corpus shows us the importance of reflection, which is something that has been incorporated into higher education for many years. It allows one to recognize their strengths and weaknesses and then use this understanding to guide continuous learning and improve motivation⁶. As proposed in the Corpus, bridging the gap between what is known and learned with what is experienced is vital. Reflecting on experiences, examining different perspectives or possibilities and then applying these contemplations can allow one to refine and develop ideas, philosophies, and methods. It is a critical component to education, allowing each student to identify and investigate what is not yet known, discovering limits and ways to fill such gaps with innovative ideas. The practices of the Hippocratic Corpus can teach anyone how to learn, discover and practice. 

References

1. Bujalkova, M., Straka, S., Jureckova, A. (2001). Hippocrates’ humoral pathology in nowaday’s reflections. Braitisl Lek Listy. 102(10): 489-92. 
2. Reiser, S. J. (2003). What modern physicians can learn from Hippocrates. Ethics and Law in Oncology. 98(8): 1555-1558. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.11565
3. Tsiompanou, E., & Marketos, S. G. (2013). Hippocrates: timeless still. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 106(7), 288–292. https://doi.org/10.1177/0141076813492945
4. Garrison, Fielding H. (1966). History of Medicine. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company.
5. Schiefsky, Mark J (2005). Hippocrates: On Ancient Medicine. Leiden: Brill.
6. Koshy, K., Limb, C., Gundogan, B., Whitehurst, K., & Jafree, D. J. (2017). Reflective practice in health care and how to reflect effectively. International journal of surgery. Oncology, 2(6), e20. https://doi.org/10.1097/IJ9.0000000000000020