Philosophy Lecture, Fresno City College
Wes McMichael
Philosophy Lecture
Dr. T. A. Cavanaugh, Professor, University of San Francisco
“Hippocrates’ Oath and Asclepius’ Snake: The Birth of Medicine as a Profession”
Medicine has a snake wrapped about a wooden rod as its symbol. Dr. Cavanaugh will contend that the snake, often regarded as a wounder not a healer, appropriately represents healing. He will bring out how this is so by arguing that medicine has a need for promising or oath-taking. Promising not to deliberately wound, as found in the Hippocratic Oath (c. 5th to 3rd century, BCE) inaugurates medicine as a profession, according to Dr. Cavanaugh. The profession continues to emphasize oath-taking or promising, and Dr. Cavanaugh’s lecture will reflect upon some of the issues surrounding professional conscience, how medicine as a profession differs from medicine as a technique, and the diversity of medical professions and promises.
Fresno City College
Evening Philosophy Lecture
followed by a period of Q & A
ASL interpreter available.
Sponsored by Fresno City College and by donations to The Philosophy Lecture Series account with the SCCCD Foundation.
Friday, October 26,
2018
7:30 p.m. OAB 251
Contact Wendell Stephenson