101Doxography in Galen’s On My Own Opinions

This chapter examines the doxographical characteristics of Galen’s last work On My Own Opinions . Specifically, it looks at the methodical exposition of the views put forward by various physicians and philosophers often presented through comparison and contrast, and the systematic ordering of doctrines and their proponents set out by means of antithesis and division. These typical doxographical elements are transformed by Galen to varying degrees and exploited for a variety of purposes, but always with the aim of propounding the virtue methodology to be adopted when engaging with medicine and philosophy. This consists of urging to use the rationally-driven and empirical methods that underpin a firm epistemological basis as conceptualised by Galen.