Vesalius' Great Work

In 1543 Andreas Vesalius published  De Humani Corporis Fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human Body) in an attempt to illustrate his anatomical findings. The book was critical of the work of the Greek anatomist Galen. Though his medical discoveries were significant, the methods Vesalius used were more important. They led to a better medical understanding of the structure of the body. Others had criticised Galen before, but Vesalius was the first to do so in a systematic way.

Vesalius also emphasised the importance of anatomists personally carrying out dissections. This was so that they could study anatomy for themselves rather than uncritically accepting other people’s ideas, which had happened in the past with doctors’ unthinking acceptance of earlier theories. This method of practice, based on direct observation experiment and evidence instead of just ideas, is called Empiricism. It would become the cornerstone of the scientific approach to knowledge and continues to be the most reliable method of discovering facts today. Vesalius is considered to be one of the first to practice this idea.

Use the information on this page to answer the following questions:

• What was the title of Vesalius book?
• Why was it important?
• When was it published?
• What is Empiricism?