Ontwikkelingen in de Galenus-studiën

In this article I provide an overview of the scholarly work done on the voluminous writings of the doctor-cum-philosopher Galen of Pergamon (129–216 CE) since the mid-19th century. In so doing I aim to show ways and means to read and study Galen for those coming to his work for the first time. First, I will discuss the slow process of replacing the Opera Omnia edition of Kühn (1821-1833) with state-of-the-art editions, new finds of Galenic works, and the modern language translations that have so far appeared. Next, I will turn to studies of Galen from a philosophical angle, most notably his ideas on knowledge and science and on human nature, then to studies focusing on Galen’s medical theories and practices, ending with work done regarding Galen’s life and times.