Agathinus

Agathinus of Sparta was a Greek physician who lived in the 1st century CE. He is generally regarded as the founder of the Eclectic school of medicine.

Agathinus was a student of Athenaeus of Attalia, but later departed from his teacher's methods and principles. He is known for combining aspects of different medical schools, particularly the Empiric and Dogmatic schools, hence the term "Eclectic." He sought to select and synthesize the best aspects of various medical doctrines, rather than adhering rigidly to a single system.

His writings are largely lost, with only fragments and mentions surviving in the works of later medical writers such as Galen. These fragments suggest Agathinus placed importance on both observation and reasoning in diagnosis and treatment. He seems to have adopted empirical methods of observation of symptoms, while also using rational analysis to understand the underlying causes of diseases.

The Eclectic school he founded emphasized practical experience alongside theoretical knowledge. His influence extended to other prominent physicians, and the Eclectic approach to medicine gained considerable traction in the Roman world. While the specific tenets of the school are not fully reconstructible due to the scarcity of primary sources, it is clear that Agathinus advocated for a more flexible and comprehensive approach to medicine compared to the more rigid schools of his time.