Plato's Rivalry with Medicine: A Struggle and Its Dissolution by Susan B. Levin

ISBN: 9780199919802

Oxford University Press 25 August 2014

Hardcover | 299 pages

Susan B. Levin argues that Plato’s engagement with medicine is richer and more complex than commonly recognised. While scholars typically view Plato’s relationship with medicine as uniform and largely positive, Levin shows that from the *Gorgias* through the *Laws* his handling of medicine unfolds in several key phases, and that he sees the medical profession as an important rival for authority on *phusis* (nature) and *eudaimonia* (flourishing).‑ In the *Gorgias* and *Symposium* Plato’s dialogues reveal a tension with medicine’s status, which is explored in his critiques in the *Republic* and ultimately dissolved in the *Laws*, where the rivalry between philosophy and medicine recedes. Levin’s work sheds new light on how Plato’s views on human nature, politics, and professional authority intersect with discussions in bioethics, demonstrating how ancient philosophical insights can inform modern debates about the doctor‑patient relationship, medical professionalism, and the role of medicine in society. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}