Galen’s Approach to Anatomy and the Soul

Galen was a philosopher and physician who paid particular attention to the importance of anatomy. After all, anatomical demonstrations could be used to address such issues as the localization of the various parts of the soul, like the hegemonikon. These demonstrations, in turn, served as a means of refuting opposing theories like those of the stoics. What’s more, one can fi nd a number of similarities between Galen’s philosophical approach and his anatomical practice, including his method and use of analysis, guided observation, diff erentiation of parts, etc. For instance, his theoretical preference for the concept of the tripartite soul, each part possessing specifi c properties and interaction dispositions, was refl ected in his practical activities. Also, a comparison between two of his late treatises, De motibus obscuris and De moribus, reveals a continuity between his approach to anatomo-physiology and his moral philosophy. Moving beyond dichotomies between the rational and irrational parts of the soul or between voluntary and involuntary movement, both treatises reveal Galen’s new preference for thinking in terms of interactions in both anatomo-physiology and in moral philosophy in order to overcome some diffi culties of interpretation related to strict dichotomies. He appears more and more interested in forging new tools to approach the complexity of biological and psychological actions and behaviors.