Hippocrates

Hippocrates of Kos (c. 460 – c. 370 BCE) was a Greek physician widely regarded as the father of Western medicine for establishing a systematized, rational approach to medical practice. Born on the island of Kos in ancient Greece, he and his school pursued clinical observation and documentation, seeking natural explanations for disease rather than attributing illnesses to superstition or the gods. His work and teachings are associated with the Hippocratic Corpus, a collection of around 60 medical writings likely composed by various authors over several centuries, many of which were linked to him and his teaching.

His contributions include emphasis on careful patient examination, the recording of case histories, and prognosis; a shift toward practical approaches such as diet, lifestyle, and regimen in treatment; and a philosophical commitment to ethics and professional conduct. The so-called four humors theory, describing a balance among blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile, emerged within this tradition and shaped medical thinking for centuries.

The Oath of Hippocrates, a foundational document in medical ethics, is traditionally attributed to him or his school; it established principles such as confidentiality, non-maleficence, and beneficence, and it has influenced medical ethics long after antiquity.

Historians note that little is known about his life beyond tradition, and the attribution of specific works to him is uncertain. Nevertheless, Hippocrates’ emphasis on observation, rational inquiry, and professional ethics had a lasting influence on the development of medicine in the Greek world and beyond.