Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466-1536): Renaissance advocate of the public role of medicine

Title
Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466-1536): Renaissance advocate of the public role of medicine
Publication Date
2003
Author(s)
Albury, William Randall
Weisz, George M
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Royal Society of Medicine Press Ltd
Place of publication
United Kingdom
UNE publication id
une:1744
Abstract
The great Renaissance scholar Erasmus of Rotterdam was a pioneering advocate of the importance of medicine for social as well as individual welfare. Erasmus' "Oration in praise of the art of medicine" (1518) illustrates his literary approach to this topic. Although the original version of his text did not address the state's role in promoting the health of the populace, Erasmus inserted new material on this topic into the "Oration" for a 1529 edition. This new material and references in some of his other writings from the same period indicate that it was in the 1520s that Erasmus first became a strong advocate of government intervention in public health matters. It is suggested that medical events in Erasmus' own life - his experiences both as a patient and as an observer of diseases - may explain why his interest in public health legislation increased significantly around this time.
Link
Citation
Journal of Medical Biography, 11(3), p. 128-134
ISSN
1758-1087
0967-7720
Start page
128
End page
134

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