-
Period: 980 to 1037
Life of Avicenna
Avicenna was a Muslim physician/scientist during the early medieval period. He was born in Bukhara, Iran, which is now in present day Uzbekistan. By the age of 10 he had memorized the entire Quran, and he would later become well versed in Aristotelian Philosophy. The subjects of his writings include mathematics, geometry, astronomy, physics, metaphysics, music, and poetry. His most influential work was the Canon of Medicine where he gives a rational view of medicine as an empirical science. -
1025
The Canon of Medicine-Video
-
1025
The Canon of Medicine
One of Avicenna's greatest contributions was in the field of medicine. The Canon of Medicine offers clinical solutions as well as a pharmacopoeia of herbal remedies. He offers an explanation of biological and medical concepts, in addition to a theoretical basis. Avicenna believed in the concept of humors as the reason for most illnesses. His work also focuses on the quality of biomolecules, whereas modern Western Medicine focuses merely on quantity. Abu-Asab. Avicenna's Medicine. HAP, 2013. -
1027
The Cure
Avicenna's other primary work is known as the Cure. In it are lessons on Logic, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Metaphysics. It is intended to be a cure for the soul. The Cure became a foundation for Scholasticism. He argues that abstract concepts such as existence and time are derived from primary concepts such as humanity and animality. References:
Rizvi, Sajjad. Avicenna. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. University of Bristol.