The brain for Galen is the ηγεμOνiÓνand ãOΧηof the nervous system. Anatomical demonstration enabled him to advance his claims for its nervous function. His conception of the brain and the nerves hinges on his employment of some psychic pneuma. Galen's system of pneumatic physiology is, however, largely dependent on the demonstration of a functioning vascular system. This paper focuses on two vascular structures-essential for the proper functioning of the brain and nerves-which carry the psychic pneuma. They arc the retiform plexus, (...) or rete mirabile, and the choroid plexuses. The former is a well-established arterial structure at the base of the brain in some higher mammals ; the latter is a vascular plexus in the ventricles of the brain. Taken together, the account Galen gives of these structures is both internally consistent and convincing and sheds useful light on Galen's understanding of the brain and the nerves. (shrink)

The ancient origins of teleological concepts are sometimes either conveniently forgotten or given a distorted appearance. On the one hand, ancient teleology has been obscured by the theological cloak of creationism. On the other, Darwinists have sometimes failed to give due consideration to the variety and subtlety of teleology's intellectual antecedents. The purpose of this book is to restore the balance by looking at the manifold ways in which teleology in antiquity was viewed. The volume, consisting of twelve essays by (...) leading authorities in their fields, examines the ways in which teleological arguments were used in antiquity and how these discussions inform and influence current debates on evolution, creationism and intelligent design. As well as examining philosophical contributions to the subject, a specific aim is to examine ancient medical thinking on this topic and its relationship to ancient philosophical ideas. (shrink)