Page:Greek Biology and Medicine.djvu/133

Rh The comparatively short but compendious treatise On the Natural Faculties,$67$ that is to say, the powers inherent in the physis or nature of the human individual, reflects many of Galen's characteristics, and may be noticed briefly.

The ancients, Galen for example, were more addicted to personification than ourselves, who have substituted processes for persons, thus using a more commonplace word to express what is still mysterious. The "processes of nature" is a common phrase, while Galen thinks of nature somewhat as an artist, accomplishing her works by τἐχνη, which is art. The human physis or nature is endowed with its own powers of attraction and repulsion. More broadly and perhaps profoundly speaking, it is alive, possessed of life, which is the sum of its natural powers. Galen is not far from modern vitalistic thinking.$68$

It has been said that there were many Galens; and, indeed, the tract before us exhibits various intellectual processes and methods which we should be surprised to find combined in any one modern person. In it Galen is biologist as well as physician. It evinces penetrating observation, with close