Speaker: Richard Gunderman, MD, PhD, John A Campbell Professor of Radiology, IUSM,
Indianapolis, Scientech Club member
Introduced By: Jeff Rasley
Attendance: NESC: 74, Zoom:
Guest(s): Jodie English, Bob Goulet, Josh Matthews, Marty Grover, Mr. Hirsch
Scribe: Bill Dick
Editor: Bill Elliott
View a recording of today’s Zoom presentation at:
Today's Program 021924
Dr. Richard Gunderman spoke to Scientech today in one of his usual deep, philosophical subjects. Today we met John Locke, a physician in England who lived from 1632-1704. He may be the most influential physician ever.
His works include Toleration, Concerning Human Understanding, and his Two Treatises on Government. He was the deepest thinker of the Enlightenment, He is the founder of Liberalism, which seeks freedom of ideas and toleration of other people’s ideas.
His parents were Puritans, and thus were dissenters. There was a state religion and most people believed in the divine right of kings. Locke attended Oxford with Robert Boyle, of Boyle’s law and Robert Hooke, who informed us about the cell. Locke believed in tabula rosa. Upon birth, our mind is a blank slate. Locke believed that we gained knowledge from experience, and with humility.
John Locke had the most influence on the American Revolution. He thought that we should have freedom of speech and freedom of religion. There should be separation of powers in government. There should be separation of church and state. Locke was an opponent of intellectual pride. He advised against dogmatism and censorship. Governments should exist to protect property. Thomas Jefferson studied Locke and adopted his ideas.
In medicine, there can be no permanent theory. The human organism is too complex. No physician can see it all. Locke was a skeptic who believed in observation, not theoretical ideas. There is no one true religion. States should not force religion on people. We should believe in curiosity, not certainty.
He was a lifelong medical practitioner. The emphasis should be in listening to patients. Dr. J.O.
Ritchey, a revered physician in Indianapolis, said that patients could have as many diseases as they
want. We should approach them with an open mind. Physicians should exist to serve patients and s
serve the community. They should avoid subjugating that to economic interests.
Richard Gunderman, MD
