The old humanities and the new science at 100: Osler’s enduring message

[摘要] The year 2019 marks the 100th anniversaryof Sir William Osler’s last public speech.Still reeling from the death of his only son inWorld War I, he had been asked to give thepresidential inaugural address of the ClassicalAssociation at Oxford. It was the fi rst time aphysician had received the honor, and Oslertook the assignment very seriously. He chose tospeak about “The old humanities and the newscience,” and to call for a reunifi cation of thetwo fi elds. “Humanists have not enough Science” he warned, “and Science sadly lacks theHumanities…this unhappy divorce…shouldnever have taken place.”1 Later, he said thatit was the speech to which he had given thegreatest thought and preparation. It was infact Osler’s personal legacy: 2 months later heturned 70, and 7 months later he was dead. Revisiting the address today, what can Oslerteach the high-tech physician of today, whendoctors have become “providers” and patients“consumers”? Is Osler’s message still relevant toour craft, or has he simply become an icon of professional nostalgia with little value for our times.

[学科分类] 卫生学