De phisicis tkeoricis et practicis
The Limits of Natural Inquiry
Natural philosophy must remain subordinate to faith, as human intellect is insufficient to grasp the deepest mysteries of creation.
However, if someone seeks counsel about the future, it is possible—provided they are gifted with the spirit of prophecy, have learned from natural signs what may happen to living creatures, or can draw conclusions from the indicators of impending events. Yet, in these matters, no one should listen in a way that compromises their faith or religion. Furthermore, these sources should only be heeded if they speak what comes from the Lord, which never undermines religion, since truth cannot contradict truth, nor can good be opposed to good. But physicists, by attributing too much authority to nature, often use their reasoning to oppose faith. I don't accuse all of them of error, though I have heard many speak about the soul, its virtues and works, the growth and decay of the body, the resurrection, and the creation of things in ways that contradict what faith holds. Sometimes they speak of God in such a way that it would be as futile as earthly beings trying to reach the stars, or as if they were attempting to pile the weight of Mount Etna onto the giant Enceladus. They can easily slip in these matters because, no matter how great the powers of the intellect, they fall short of the depth of the difficulties involved. Wherever understanding fails, based on the reasoning of faith, which is the medium, only opinion remains. However, when the inquiry concerns lower things, such as the constitution of an animal or the cause and treatment of its illness, they lack nothing at all—except perhaps the actual result of the work, if that is what is sought.
The Pride and Confusion of Theorists
Theoretical physicians often display excessive pride and contradictory reasoning, yet they remain necessary for the practical care of the body.
Theorists certainly do whatever they like, and perhaps out of love for you, they'll give you more—you'll receive from them the causes and natures of individual things. They act as judges of health, sickness, and neutrality. They grant health in word only, and they preserve it; they order neutrality to shift this way or that; they foresee and teach the causes of sickness, and they declare its beginning, growth, state, and decline. Why say more? When I listen to them, they seem capable of raising the dead, and they are considered no less than Aesculapius or Mercury. Yet I am distracted and troubled by a great mental confusion: they fall apart and disagree among themselves with such a conflict of words and collision of arguments. One thing I do know for sure: contradictory things cannot be true at the same time. What should I say about practical physicians? Far be it from me to speak anything perverse about them; for because of my own sins, I fall into their hands all too often.
The Stewardship of Health
While medicine is a gift from God, practitioners must remain humble and avoid claiming divine power for themselves.
They shouldn't be provoked with words, but rather soothed with compliance. I don't want them to treat me too harshly, and I don't even dare to voice what everyone else is shouting. I will say, then, along with holy Solomon, that medicine comes from the Lord God, and a wise man won't despise it. Indeed, no one is more necessary or useful than a doctor, provided he is faithful and prudent. For who could ever sing the praises of one who, as an artisan of health and a steward of life, imitates the Lord in this and acts in His place? He manages and dispenses the health that the Lord works and grants as if He were the Master and Prince. It doesn't matter if some charlatans sell grace, or if others want to appear more righteous by taking nothing until the patient recovers; they are all the more wicked for attributing the benefit of time—or rather, the gift of God—to their own hands, when the person whom God raises up, and the vigor of the recovering nature, would have been raised up even without their work. Although this is now something only a few say, with doctors constantly advising and repeating to one another: 'Take it while it hurts.' And I'm not moved if their methods contradict one another, since I know that opposite approaches often have the same effect. But when someone dies in their hands, they'll then produce the necessary arguments to show that his life wasn't meant to be extended any further.
A Measured Judgment
The author refuses to join in the harsh public mockery of physicians, preferring to defer to classical authorities on the matter.
And (as the saying goes), for those who have been worn down by a long fast, they now prepare little broths for the dying, and fix them useful and delicate meals. Perhaps you're expecting me to say what the public says, since these are the people who kill men with such officious care. But it's in vain. For I wouldn't dream of making such an insult; if you happen to want to hear it, you can go to Seneca, Pliny, and Sidonius, who will repeat it in your ears with a loud clamor.
Read the original Latin
Licet tamen de futuris ut aliquis consulatur, ita quidem, si aut spiritu polleat prophetiae, aut ex naturalibus signis quid in corporibus animalium eueniat phisica docente cognouit, aut si qualitatem temporis imminentis experimentorum indiciis colligit. Dum tamen his posterioribus nequaquam quis ita aurem accommodet, ut fidei aut religioni praeiudicet; sed nec primi audiendi sunt, nisi in eo quod loquuntur a Domino, quod numquam religionem impugnat, quia uerum uero nequit esse contrarium nec bonum bono. At phisici, dum naturae nimium auctoritatia attribuunt, in auctorem naturae aduersando fidei plerumque impingunt. Non enim omnes erroris arguo, licet plurimos audierim de anima, de uirtutibus et operibus eius, de augmento corporis et diminutione, de resurrectione eiusdem, de creatione rerum aliter quam fides habeat disputantes. De ipso quoque Deo interdum ita loquuntur, ut si terrigenae temptarent astra gigantes, et inani conatu cum ' Enchelado ut eis Ethnae onus igniliuum imponatur cupiant promereri. Sed in his facile labi possunt, quia quanticumque ingenii uires citra profunditatem difficultatis quae in his uertitur subsistunt. a Vbi uero deficit intellectus, fidei ratione deducta, quae media est, restat sola opinio. Cum uero de inferioribus quaeritur, puta de complexione animalis de causa et cura egritudinis eis omnino nichil deest praeter efiectum operis, si is desideratur.
Et quidem theorici quicquid suum est faciunt, et forte pro amore tuo amplius erogabunt ab eis singularum rerum causas et naturas accipies. Sanitatis egritudinis et neutralitatis censores sunt. Dant sanitatem uerbo tenus et conseruant; neutralitatem iubent istuc diuertere; egritudinis praeuident et docent causas, indicunt ei initium augmentum statum et declinationem. Quid multa Cum eos audio, uidentur mihi posse mortuos suscitare, nec Esculapio Mercurioue creduntur inferiores. h Verumtamen in eo magna mentis anuniratione distrahor et perturbor, quod a seipsis tanto uerborum conflietu et coUisione rationum dissiliunt et discordant. Unum prof ecto scio, contraria simul uera esse non posse. Quid de medicis practicis dicam"? Absit ut de eis quicquam peruersum loquar; in manus enim eorum exigentibus peccatis meis nimis frequenter incido.
Non sunt exasperandi uerbis sed potius demulcendi obsequio. Nolo me tractent durius, nec etiam sentire audeo quod omnes clamant. Dicam ergo cum sancto Salomone quia medicina a Domino Deo est, et uir sapiens non contempnet eam. Nemo siquidem magis necessarius est aut utilior medico, dummodo sit fidelis et prudens. Quis enim praeconia illius declamare sufficiat, qui salutis artifex procurator uitae in eo Dominum imitatur et uices eius agit, quod salutem, quam ille operatur et quasi dominus et princeps donat, iste yconomus et minister procurat et dispensatl Nec ad rem attinet, si qui pseudo gratiam uendunt, et qui iustiores uideri uolunt, dum nihil accipiant antequam eger conualescat, in eo iniquiores sunt, quod beneficium temporis immo munus Dei manibus suis adscribunt, cum ille quem Deus erigit et uigor naturae conualescentis citra operam eius fuerat erigendus. Quamuis istud iam paucorum sit, sibi inuicem suadentibus et replicantibus medicis: Dum dolet accipe. Nec moueor si opera eorum in se compugnent, cum sciam contrariorum plerumque esse eundem efiectum. Sed cum inter manus eorum quis in fata collapsus est, tunc necessarias producent rationes, quibus apparebit quod uita eius non fuerat ulterius protendenda.
Et (ut dicitur) quos longa afflixerunt inedia, iam mortuis sorbitiunculas faciunt et utiles et delicatos praeparant cibos. Expectas fortasse ut dicam quod dicit populus, quia hi sunt qui homines officiosissime occidunt. Sed frustra. Absit enim ut hanc contumeliam proferam, quam si forte audire uolueris, Senecam Plinium adeas et Sydonium, qui hoc in auribus tuis clamore uaHdo replicabunt.
Policraticus companion
Study the argument weekly; pray the tradition daily
Pair the outline with the Chosen Portion app, which serves short daily portions from the same royal devotional tradition — free on iOS.
John of Salisbury argued that rulers must keep the law of God before their eyes daily; Chosen Portion gives modern readers that same daily discipline in five minutes a morning.
- 8 weeks, one book per week, with the 3-4 key chapters flagged in each
- Discussion questions usable for a reading group from week one
- A daily 5-minute companion portion in the app alongside your weekly study