Review of The Virtuous Physician

[Justine Ocsebio]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Virtuous Physician" by Elliott B. Martin, Jr..]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The Virtuous Physician: A Brief Medical History of Moral Inquiry from Hippocrates to COVID-19 examines the intersection of medicine and the humanities. Since time immemorial, medicine has been closely tied to religion and practiced by shamans, or individuals with supposed supernatural abilities. However, through the contributions of Pythagoras and Hippocrates, medicine began to evolve into a distinct field of inquiry, which was later reflected in the Precepts. The text emerged following the spread of Hippocratic theories, which also first introduced the idea of a "virtuous physician." 

In this work, the author translated and interpreted many ideas found in the Precepts and contextualized them to contemporary practice of medicine, specifically their relevance to the COVID-19 crisis. I appreciate this aspect the most. I find it enlightening that ancient ideas still apply to modern problems. In the beginning of the book, the author provides a thorough historical background on how the concept of medicine came to be. I particularly appreciate the author’s attempt to position medicine not merely as a branch of science but also as an integral part of the humanities. It helps enrich our understanding of human health and the practice of medicine, highlighting the importance of approaching healthcare with a blend of both scientific and humanistic insight. 

The only issue in this book that might probably deter some readers is the fact that the book reads like a textbook. It's clear that extensive research went into creating this work, which inevitably led to the inclusion of technical terms that made it a challenging read for me. However, I still rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The concerns I mentioned didn't justify deducting a star, as the book is well-organized, flawlessly edited, and thoroughly researched. Despite the difficulty I experienced, I would highly recommend it as a valuable reference for scholars involved in the study of medicine.

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The Virtuous Physician
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