7 Calcidius, Witness to Greek Medical Theories: Eye Anatomy and Pathology

Abstract

This chapter reviews Calcidius' exegesis of Plato's Timaeus , focusing on Calcidius' portrayal of Greek ophthalmological theories and practices and his representation of a group of people he openly attacks. It focuses on the way medical references are inserted within a specific philosophical context, and assesses both the conventionality and the originality of these references. In chapter 243 and 246 of the commentary, medicine is precisely cited as evidence for the uniqueness of the visual beam emitted by the eye on two occasions: first as part of eye pathologies, then as part of eye anatomy. Calcidius' recurring references to ideas that can already be found in the Pergamene Greek philosopher and physician allow us to treat chapter 243. What appear to be separate epistemic fields, philosophical, optical, medical doxography, are actually different aspects of the same reality: philosophy. Keywords: Calcidius' exegesis; eye anatomy; eye pathologies; Greek medical theories; medical references; philosophical context