Ideas from 'fragments/reports' by Alcmaeon [490 BCE], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Early Greek Phil V: Parmenides, Empedocles etc' by Parmenides (ed/tr Laks,A/Most,G) [Harvard Loeb 2016,978-0-674-99706-6]].

green numbers give full details    |     back to texts     |     unexpand this idea


15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 1. Mind / d. Location of mind
Alcmaeon was the first to say the brain is central to thinking
                        Full Idea: Alcmaeon apparently was the first Greek to assign central cognitive and biological functions to the brain.
                        From: report of Alcmaeon (fragments/reports [c.490 BCE]) by Heinrich von Staden - Alcmaeon
                        A reaction: The name of Alcmaeon should be remembered with honour. This was 200 years before Aristotle, who still hadn't worked it out. I presume Alcmaeon inferred the truth from head injuries, which is overwhelming evidence, if you notice it.