Apology of Hippocrates
Apology of Hippocrates

Summary/Abstract: The article discusses Hippocrates’ legacy to modern society. Our argument is that the philosophy and socio-political tradition of classical Greece that have shaped the views in the works of Corpus Hippocraticum are considered the core of European spiritual heritage with their ideas of humanism, sanity and prosperity. And we are convinced that both society and deniers of Hippocrates’ importance need to learn from his humanism. In support of our argument there are quotations from some of the major works in the Corpus Hippocraticum which support the moral and ethic ideas of Hippocratic „Oath“. The great lesson which Hippocrates teaches us is that medicine is a difficult profession that cannot be separated from the supreme morality and love for people. In search of the European identity today we go back to the ancient Greek tradition such as we see it displayed in the works of Hippocrates. As stated by Javier Manuel Martinez Delgado in his article „Identity and European Integration in a globalized world“, the European identity is based on diverse value characteristics and spiritual achievements accepted as essential by the European nations and one of them is the Hippocratic medicine. An interesting fact is that the same idea we find in the report of R.W. la Forte written for the Ministry of Defence of the UK, where the concept of freedom and free society in the European identity is based on the Ancient Greek idea of democracy and in particular the one defined by Hippocrates in „Airs, waters, places“ as opposed to eastern despotism.

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