Alcmaeon of Croton (VI Century BC) – physician, biologist, a pathologist, and neuroscientist, practiced vivisection on animals. Bioethics

Abstract

The analysis of the work of historians, biologists, psychologists, doctors, and philosophers, as well as the analysis of the fragments of early Greek philosophers in connection with the activities of the Greek physician Alcmaeon of Croton (VI century BC) is made. It is shown that Alcmaeon is the first neurophysiologist who practiced the vivisection of animals while studying the function of the optic nerve. The doctrine of Alcmaeon on sensual perception and his views on the delineation of animals and humans are a dual and at the present time for the comprehension of theoretical problems of bioethics of man’s relationship to the animal world and the use of animals in scientific research.