CCIV 210/WMST 206 Hippocratic Corpus Discussion Questions

1. Reread the assigned selections from Aristotle On the Generation of Animals (Book I [18-22] and Book II [1-4]). Then answer the following questions by paraphrasing Aristotle's arguments: What is the primary nature of semen? Does it occur in females? If not, why not? If so, what is its primary nature in females? In what way specifically--i.e. by what agency--is the semen in males the cause of generation? 2. Reread "Airs, Waters, and Places" Sections 1-6. Then, using also what you have learned about Hippocratic Medicine in class, explain the logic of the four types of cities discussed. Link here to a map showing the four areas. 3. Read through the Hippocratic Aphorisms, especially Section V. Then select one or more having to do with women, and explain in detail how the principles of Hippocratic medicine are represented by the aphorism. Make sure to identify by Section Number and Aphorism number (e.g., I.5) the text you are discussing. 4. Link here to cases concerning women from the Hippocratic Epidemics. Compare one or more of these to the reports of cures in the Epidaurian Asklepion (on the Online Readings Site), making sure to contrast the methodology and the underlying assumptions about women.