Medicine and Magic: The dynamics of science and faith in drug development in antiquity.

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dc.contributor.advisorBaltussen, Han
dc.contributor.advisorMusgrave, Ian
dc.contributor.authorMacpherson, Gregory John
dc.contributor.schoolSchool of Humanities : Historical and Classical Studies
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractThe choice of antivaxxers is often confusing. Their faith in their beliefs, doubts about science and distrust of medical authority may offer explanations. These aspects of human nature are in play whether it is us seeking a therapy at Chemist Warehouse or when an ancient Athenian bought herbal remedies from the pharmacopoloi in the agora. The spectrum of belief, from faith to science, has impacted drug development and use throughout history; understanding these enduring natural human aspects and how they affect the decisions people make about drugs is why this thesis is important. Like a foal trotting alongside its mother, the course of pharmacology has been harnessed to that of medicine: sometimes seeking nurture, sometimes off exploring. However, both ancient and recent scholarship of medical sciences has tended to neglect the foal in favour of the mare. The reason for this study is to reveal a clearer understanding of the history of pharmacology and to derive new learnings on the impact of human nature on drug development. I propose to travel the path of ancient pharmacology. Along the way we will encounter the great milestones of ancient medicine. Will the ancient Egyptian medical papyri, like Ebers, show us the influence of thousands of years of drug knowledge on Greek pharmacology? Does the ‘reason’ of that stallion of medicine, Hippocrates, and the faith inspired by Asclepius, reveal the thoughts of classical drug users? The rhizotomoi and pharmacopoloi speak to us through Theophrastus of the path from garden-bed to bedside, but what of the nurses, midwives, and sorceresses? Dioscorides in his Materia Medica takes us down the home straight and accumulates the pent-up logic in pharmacology. His milestone became the granite foundation of pharmacology for a millennium and a half. But from a pre-scientific, profoundly religious society, how do the natural human traits endure and inspire? Choice has been critical for drug development, decisions influenced by faith and science throughout history have steered the direction of drug use, such as through preparations accompanied by magic spells, herbal recipes, and classical medical theories. Understanding this direction is significant for the interpretation of the history of pharmacology and how this informs the decisions people make when they peruse the plethora of products in today’s pharmacy.
dc.description.dissertationThesis (MPhil.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Humanities : Historical and Classical Studies, 2025en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/146314
dc.language.isoen
dc.provenanceThis electronic version is made publicly available by the University of Adelaide in accordance with its open access policy for student theses. Copyright in this thesis remains with the author. This thesis may incorporate third party material which has been used by the author pursuant to Fair Dealing exceptions. If you are the owner of any included third party copyright material you wish to be removed from this electronic version, please complete the take down form located at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/legalsen
dc.subjectMedicine
dc.subjectmagic
dc.subjectantiquity
dc.subjectpharmacology
dc.subjectancient history
dc.subjectbelief
dc.titleMedicine and Magic: The dynamics of science and faith in drug development in antiquity.
dc.typeThesisen

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