Archidoxa ex Theophrastia : Pars I

...is to be considered a human judgment. For for what reason should he, Theophrastus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, known as Paracelsus (1493–1541), a Swiss physician and alchemist whose radical ideas challenged traditional medical authority., be despised and shamed for it, while all other philosophers have been praised and lauded? Even assuming that what he wrote concerning the nature of the lesser and greater worlds original: "kleinern und grossern welt" — The concept of the Microcosm (man) and Macrocosm (the universe), a central pillar of Paracelsian philosophy holding that the human body reflects the structure of the cosmos. were nothing and entirely without foundation: does it then suit learned men to lash out in such a way, as they mockingly do? Would it not be better to refute this lack of foundation with a solid foundation in nature, and to prove that the writings of Theophrastus cannot stand in the light of nature? original: "liecht der natur" — A central Paracelsian concept referring to the innate wisdom and reason granted by God to humanity to understand the physical world through observation and experience.

But it is not the truth, but rather pride and ignorance—with which the adversaries of Theophrastus are filled—that causes him to be so reviled. For these supposed "great Doctors" see that if the medicine of this Trismegistus original: "Trismegisti" — Likely referring here to Paracelsus as a "thrice-great" figure or a restorer of the ancient Hermetic medical tradition. were to gain ground, their own authority would collapse. For they are ashamed, after receiving their doctorates and spending years in their supposed practice, to learn anything more from Theophrastus and his followers. Yet, in the face of serious illnesses, they know not how to give the slightest advice or help—whereas Theophrastus has left certain and proven medicines to his own followers for all such cases. For what becomes of these ignorant despisers of Theophrastian medicines in the face of grave illnesses, such as the Plague original: "Peste", the French Disease original: "morbo Gallico" — A common historical name for Syphilis., Epilepsy original: "Epilepsia", Leprosy original: "Lepra", Gout original: "Gutta", Dropsy original: "Hydrope" — An old medical term for edema or swelling caused by excess fluid., and others of their kind? During the Plague, these supposed Doctors flee, leaving the sick lying helpless, despite the fact that they have for many years accepted generous stipends original: "Prouision Gelt" — Annual salaries or retainers paid by cities to municipal physicians to ensure medical care for the citizenry. from the cities. It is as if it were the healthy, and not the sick, who required a physician: