The Reception of Atomism in Ancient Medical Literature

In his chapter ‘The reception of atomism in ancient medical literature: From Hippocrates to Galen’, Vincenzo Damiani offers an in-depth investigation into the conceptual and historical linkage between atomism and medicine in antiquity. Apart from his interest in mechanics, Democritus had a strong interest in medicine, especially in embryology and human reproduction. Damiani explores Democritus’ contribution in these fields in close detail, as well as painting a full picture of how this contribution was received, elaborated and contrasted in later times, from Hippocrates down to the Hellenistic and post-Hellenistic period (from Erasistratus of Ceos to Asclepiades and Galen).