Principles of scientific cognition in Herophilus' works of the "Golden Age" of the Alexandrian Medical School

The article presents the study of works of Alexandrian physician Herophilus from the point of methodological principles of cognition which he used in his research. The article contains information about Herophilus, anatomist, physiologist, and pathophysiolo-gist. Herophilus' works were examined from the point of empiricism, Hippocratic tradition and the importance of science in medical practice. Ancient principles of scientific cognition are compared with the modern science principles. The methodology of the analysis is based on attention to the physiophilosophical tradition of Herophilus. The development of the Alexandrian school in III BC based on pre-Galen's theories may be estimated due to Galen's works and also may give an opportunity to reconstruct the history of ancient medicine. The article shows the historical significance of Herophilus' works, their impact on the further development of medicine, the value of Herophilus' medical discoveries. Due to the contribution which Herophilus made to the formation of modern scientific medical views, he may be considered as one of the apologists in the natural philosophy line "Hippocrates - Herophilus - Galen", where he acts as an anatomist, physiologist, pathophysiologist, physician and researcher. Although the anatomical research methods were widespread in ancient times, Herophilus employed pathophysiological and experimental methods. Moreover, he used such principles as unity of theory and practice, analysis and synthesis, nervosism, comparative pathology, unity of structure and function, comparative physiology in phylogeny, comparative gender analysis in his research. Herophilus studied different pulse shapes during various forms of pathology, developed pathogenetic treatment guidelines. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology helped him to discover blood in arteries. Herophilus studied the mechanisms of development of pathological conditions, he identified the postmortem coagulation of blood in vessels. Herophilus not only gave an accurate description of the various systems of the body, but also explored their relationship and mutual interaction, arranged the anatomy facts which had been accumulated by his predecessors, defined many anatomical structures. The progressive role of Herophilus in further science development depended on his discoveries in anatomy, physiology, theoretical and clinical pathophysiology, accurate application of methodological principles of research, treatment principles, and terminology development.

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