What was the Methodic school of medicine?

The Methodic school was an influential branch of medical thought in ancient Greece and Rome that arose in reaction to the Empiric and Dogmatic schools. Founded by Themison of Laodicea, the school focused on following appearances and what seemed expedient in medical treatment. Soranus of Ephesus stands out as one of its most prominent chief representatives, leaving behind notable treatises on gynecology and diseases.

What we know

• The Methodic school was a branch of medical thought in ancient Greece and Rome that arose in reaction to both the Empiric school and the Dogmatic school. [2]
• Themison of Laodicea founded the Methodic school of medicine and was one of the most eminent physicians of his time. [5]
• Soranus of Ephesus was a prominent representative of the Methodic school of medicine and wrote treatises on gynecology as well as acute and chronic diseases. [3, 4]
• Sextus Empiricus noted that the Methodic school shares common ground with Pyrrhonism by following appearances and taking from them whatever seems expedient. [2]

Still open

• The exact origins of the Methodic school are shrouded in some controversy.

Where to go next

• whoWho was Themison of Laodicea?
• the bigger pictureHow did ancient Roman medicine develop?
• a case in pointWhat did Soranus write about gynecology?
• compared withHow did the Methodic school compare to the Empiric school?
• an unexpected connectionWhat is Pyrrhonism?

Sources

• [1]methodic school (Wikidata Q2732349) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Methodic school · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Medicine in ancient Rome · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Soranus of Ephesus · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Themison of Laodicea · CC BY-SA 4.0