God, the supreme being, is neither circumscribed by space, nor touched by time; he cannot be found in a particular direction, and his essence cannot change. The secret conversation is thus entirely spiritual; it is a direct encounter between God and the soul, abstracted from all material constraints.
—Avicenna
Medicine deals with the states of health and disease in the human body. It is a truism of philosophy that a complete knowledge of a thing can only be obtained by elucidating its causes and antecedents, provided, of course, such causes exist. In medicine it is, therefore, necessary that causes of both health and disease should be determined.
—Avicenna
Medicine considers the human body as to the means by which it is cured and by which it is driven away from health.
—Avicenna
An ignorant doctor is the aide-de-camp of death.
—Avicenna
The knowledge of anything, since all things have causes, is not acquired or complete unless it is known by its causes. Therefore in medicine we ought to know the causes of sickness and health. And because health and sickness and their causes are sometimes manifest, and sometimes hidden and not to be comprehended except by the study of symptoms, we must also study the symptoms of health and disease. Now it is established in the sciences that no knowledge is acquired save through the study of its causes and beginnings, if it has had causes and beginnings; nor completed except by knowledge of its accidents and accompanying essentials. Of these causes there are four kinds: material, efficient, formal, and final.
—Avicenna
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Mortimer J. Adler American Philosopher, Educator
- Hippocrates Ancient Greek Physician
- Thomas Aquinas Italian Catholic Priest
- Erich Fromm German Social Philosopher
- Cicero Roman Philosopher
- Jeremy Bentham British Philosopher, Economist
- Karl Popper Austrian-born British Philosopher
- Socrates Ancient Greek Philosopher
- Zeno of Citium Greek Philosopher
- Abraham Joshua Heschel American Jewish Rabbi
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