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welcome | Plato | frequently asked questions |
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Athenian "Do you agree that
there are [these] two kinds of Physicians? ... Have you observed that, as
there are slaves as well as freemen among the patients, there are also
Physicians for slaves and Physicians for freemen? Slaves ...are treated by slave Physicians, who pay their slave patients a hurried visit ... Slave Physicians scarcely give their patients time to express their complaints. They will then give their slave patients some potion with airs of great knowledge and the demeanor of despots, and then rush away to see other slaves... A free Physician who attends free men, on the other hand, treats his patients' diseases by going into them thoroughly in a methodical manner, and he takes his patients and families into his confidence. Thus, a free Physician learns from his patients, and at the same time instruct them to the best of his ability. A Physician for freemen will not prescribe before completely winning his patients' trust and, after gaining their trust, he will steadily aim at bringing about a complete restoration of health by persuading his patients to comply with his treatments. Now, which of the two do you consider to be a better Physician?" |
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| From Book IV of The Laws of Plato. | ||
