S.’s Reviews > Science and Civilization in Islam > Status Update

The seventh chapter about the evolution of Medicine ( especially in the Islamic world as specifies the title)should be taught at medical schools ! So rich of historical events, and funny Rhazes and Haly Abbas treatments :D One thing to keep in mind : In Islam medicine attempt to view a man as a whole, in whom body and soul are united, and seeking to relate man to the total cosmic environment.

5th chapter : Mathematics : " There can be no "neutrality" on the part of man with respect to numbers : either he climbs to the world of Being through knowledge of their qualitative and symbolic aspects, or he descends through them, as mere numbers, to the world of quantity."

On the teaching system throughout the Islamic world : " The atmosphere of these schools has been very relaxed and informal, without there being any great academic or financial pressure upon students...Nor has there ever been the strong incentive o receive a diploma and then seek the benefit from its social and economic advantages, That is why a person may often remain a student all his life... " *puke rainbows*

Such are the strange ways of History. Yet certain constants remain universal. We can admire the insight of Alhazen, for all that he was a "mere" scientist : " Those who would destroy science are really undermining religion." - Girgio de Santillana, Preface