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Medicine, philosophy and man's infirmity
pp. 272-284
in: Waltervon Baeyer, Richard M. Griffith (eds), Conditio humana, Berlin, Springer, 1966Abstract
In the tenth book of the Confessions, St. Augustine raised the question of man for the first time in its modern version. In the midst of what would now be called an existential analysis of the mystery of human existence, he writes, "And I directed my thoughts to myself and said, "Who art thou?' and I answered, "a man'2." In another place, he inquires, "What then am I, O God. Of what nature am I3?" And further on "… I have become a puzzle to myself, and this is my infirmity4."