Hippocrates and the Ethical Foundations of Medicine

Picture: The ruins of Pergamon, with the Asclepion where Hippocrates started his works.

Timeless Wisdom Lecture Series – Lecture 52
Hippocrates and the Ethical Foundations of Medicine

More than two millennia ago, Hippocrates transformed the art of healing into a moral covenant. He taught that medicine is not merely about curing disease, but about honoring life, protecting dignity, and serving humanity with compassion. His famous Oath—invoked across cultures and generations—set forth the physician’s sacred duty to do no harm, to act with integrity, and to place the well-being of the patient above all else. This lecture will trace the origins of medical ethics in Hippocratic thought, showing how these timeless principles became the bedrock upon which the healing professions still stand today.

We will also explore the remarkable parallels between Hippocrates’ teachings and the wisdom traditions of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Across these civilizations, the healer is seen not only as a technician but as a guardian of moral responsibility—one who embodies justice, compassion, and reverence for life. By bringing together philosophy, religion, and science, the lecture highlights how Hippocratic ethics resonate far beyond ancient Greece, offering a global and enduring framework for medical practice.

In our own century, physicians face unprecedented challenges: the rise of biotechnology, artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and global inequities in healthcare. The speed of innovation often outpaces ethical reflection, raising urgent questions about responsibility and accountability. Here, Hippocrates’ legacy becomes more than a historical curiosity—it becomes a guide. His insistence that medicine is a moral calling reminds us that progress without ethics risks reducing patients to numbers rather than treating them as human beings.

Sponsored by: Federation of Hellenic Medical Associations of North America

Join us for this thought-provoking lecture as part of the Timeless Wisdom series. Together, we will rediscover why Hippocrates’ vision of ethical medicine is not just a cornerstone of the past but a living compass for the present and the future. Come and see how the ancient oath continues to inspire modern healers—and why the spirit of Hippocrates still calls us to unite science with conscience, healing with justice, and medicine with humanity.