Medicine and philosophy - Classical Homeopathy Online

Aristotle on sleep and dreams 205the beginning can better be understood both in the light of the frameworkof the study of nature in which his discussion takes place and in the lightof his overall attitude towards the phenomenon in the wider context of hispsychology and ethical theory. From this point of view, we can arrive at amore appropriate assessment of Aristotle’s achievement in the study of sleepand dreams. The strength of Aristotle’s treatment lies, in my view, in hishighly intelligent and systematic approach, as it is reflected in the shrewdand original questions he asks. His use of empirical material does not, to besure, always concord with all criteria that we, from a modern point of view,might think desirable for a truly scientific investigation; and his optimistictone throughout both treatises, suggesting that everything is clear and onlywaiting to be explained by the master, does not quite do justice to hisstruggle with the perplexing phenomenon of prophecy in sleep – whichhe, not surprisingly, is unable to explain satisfactorily. Yet when measuringAristotle’s achievement in comparison with what was known and believedin his own time, we have good reasons to be impressed. His works on sleepand dreams are without any doubt the most intelligent extant treatment ofthe subject in classical literature.