Medicine, philosophy and man's infirmity

Edmund D. Pellegrino

pp. 272-284

in: Waltervon Baeyer, Richard M. Griffith (eds), Conditio humana, Berlin, Springer, 1966

Abstract

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."