When I look at thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast established; what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou dost care for him? Yet thou hast made him little less than God, and dost crown him with glory and honor. (Psalm 8:3-5)
St Basil the Great reflects on how much the science and medicine of his day knew about the human body. He says no one has the time to study it all. Little did he know where science and medicine would go in the future and how much more we know today about the workings of the human body than in his day.
He also comments on how people in his day were more interested in studying the sky than studying the human body, which I’m guessing he is referring to astrology and the ancient interest in reading the signs in the sky to predict and determine human events and history. He thinks it is a far more worthy pursuit to study the human body and try to learn what a human is. He writes:
Effort has been spent in much diligent study of the human body that belongs to all of us. If you study medicine, you will find how many things it describes to us, how many hidden vessels it has discovered in our internal structure through anatomical dissection, tunnels in the invisible, a single confluence from the body, the channels of breath, the pipelines of blood, the drawing of breath, the dwelling of a hearth of heat by the heart, the continuous movement of breath around the heart. There are thousands of observations concerning these things with which not one of us is acquainted, for nobody has the leisure to take on this field of research, neither does each know himself as he is.
For we are satisfied to know the sky rather than ourselves. Do not despise the wonder that is in you. For you are small in your own reckoning, but the Word will disclose that you are great. Because of this wise David, examining and seeing himself exactly, says, ‘Wonderful is your knowledge from me‘ [Psalm 138:6], I have discovered in wonder knowledge concerning you. (ON THE HUMAN CONDITION, pp 31-32)
Ultimately for St Basil the scientific study of the human body should lead us to a knowledge of our Creator. He doesn’t fear the study of science, medicine, or anatomy for he doesn’t see these studies as opposing truth, but another way to learn the truth about what it is to be human. Through science we can gain some heavenly insight into our world and ourselves.
For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. (Psalm 139:13-14)
Fraternized 