Medizin- und kulturgeschichtliche Konnexe des Pietismus. Heilkunst und Ethik, arkane Traditionen, Musik, Literatur und Sprache (herausgegeben von Irmtraut Sahmland und Hans-Jürgen Schrader)

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Irmtraut Sahmland
• Subject Area: History of Science
• Term: from 2016 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 311014685

Since the second half of the 17th century Pietism is undoubtedly a religious movement with manifold influences on intellectual and cultural history as well as on the history of science. Initially in this volume the focus explicitly goes to pietism¿s connections and influences on the history of medicine.In contrast to the redundant studies concerning the history of the Halle pietism we only have scarce knowledge yet about pietistic communities with international connections (Denmark and the United States) scattered especially in the western part of Germany. These heterogeneous, partly fundamental and radical denominations are still an almost terra incognita. The innovative research studies in this volume refer to the end of the 17th century up to the later 19th century with emphasis on the 18th century.Focused on particular protagonists (doctors, patients, medical laymen healers) the studies give way to several approaches to medical matters, as to the meaning of health and disease which evolved out of the basic doctrines of the pietistic communities, and furthermore to the therapeutic methods due to this special understanding. Pietism obviously stated specific ethical and moral norms obliging christian doctors.Especially concerning the medical practice under influence of pietism some characteristic elements have been outlined, including a specific healer-patient-relationship. However, the question is whether or not there was a genuine ¿pietistic medicine¿. Due to the history of science there is an important interest of how to characterize pietism-influenced medical theory and practice between mediating and conserving traditions on the one hand and anticipating and preparing future developments on the other. Further research is needed to obtain answers following the findings presented in this volume.

• DFG Programme: Publication Grants