Source Analysis: Medieval Anatomy & the Four Causes
Background: Mondino (or Mundinus) de’ Luzzi (ca. 1275-1327)
Some consider Mondino the first to perform human dissection in the Middle Ages. Not all agree, however, on what “perform” means in Mondino’s case. Some sources say he actually performed dissections at public lectures, while others say he read from a Galenic text while a barber-surgeon performed the dissection and pointed out the parts.
Using Galen’s work, Mondino systematized dissection, and his work, Anathomia (or De Anatome), which was completed in 1316, was widely used in medieval medical schools for three centuries. After the invention of printing press, there were many editions of Anathomia. [e.g., Pavia (1478), Bologna (1482), Padua (1484), Venice (1494, 1498, 1500, 1507), Leipzig (1505), Strasburg (1509)]. Usually if something found in a dissection were not described in Mondino's "Anathomia", constantly open before them while dissecting, it was considered an anomaly rather than a discovery.
Primary Source: Excerpts from Anathomia (Anatomy)
Having placed the body of one that has died from beheading or hanging in the supine position, we must first gain an idea of the whole, and then of the parts . . .
Now considering this whole we ought to know how man differs from the brutes. He differs then in three ways, to wit, in the form or position of his members, in his manner or arts, and in possession of certain parts.
First in form. Man, we note, is of upright stature and was so made for four reasons:
1) For that the human body is made of matter which is ethereal and airy and is the lightest among all the animals; wherefore it does ever upward strive.
2) For that, compared with other animals of the same bigness, man has a greater degree of heat and the trend of heat is also upward.
3) For that man has a most perfect form which he shares with the Angels and Intelligences that rule the Universe. Thus are all his senses of right in the upper part of his body.
4) For the end to which he was made. For he is thus upright that he may understand, and for this there serve the senses and, notably, that of sight as is seen in the preface of the Metaphysics [by Aristotle].
More Background: Aristotelian Four Causes
Aristotelian thought explained everything in terms of four “causes.” Keep in mind that Aristotle is not using the word “cause” in the same ways that are familiar to modern readers. He argued that everything could be explained according to these four categories. Take the example of a house. Aristotle would explain it in the following way.
Material cause = wood, glass, stone
Efficient cause = carpenter, hammer
Formal cause = what would be found on a blueprint, the "plan"
Final cause = shelter, beauty
Before answering the questions below, re-read pp. 13-14 and pp. 37-39 in Revolutionizing the Sciences.
QUESTIONS:
1)How is Mondino using the four Aristotelian “causes” in these excerpts? Explain. Be specific.
2)How does Mondino’s approach to human anatomy in the 14th century differ from that of Andreas Vesalius in the 16th century? Explain.