Leibniz as a Precursor of Public Health

Abstract

This article argues that the proposals concerning the organization of medical activities put forward by Leibniz make it possible to consider him as a precursor of public health. His proposals can be analyzed with reference to three aspects: research, organizational-legal and didactic. Leibniz was clearly in favour of the creation of a holistic system of healthcare both regarding an individual and a social community which an individual belongs to. All his proposals were based on the assumption that the social dimension of healthcare was as important as the individual one, which is why he believed that healthcare activities should be coordinated at the level of the society and the entire state. Consistency in putting his proposals into practice can be expected to lead to the creation of a holistic model of public health – such activities began in the 19^th century and continue – with increasing intensity – until the present. Leibniz’s proposals concerning healthcare are also connected with the issues in the philosophy of politics which he took up in his research and follow the Aristotelian belief which he shared that the common good of a given community is the ultimate aim of political activities.