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J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2004;127:929-944
© 2004 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery

Editorial

Leonardo da Vinci as a paradigm for modern clinical research

F. C. Wells, MA, MS, FRCS, FEACTS,a,*, T. Crowe, MAb

a Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
b The Universal Leonardo Bureau, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London, United Kingdom

Received for publication February 4, 2004; accepted for publication February 10, 2004.

* Address for reprints: Mr Francis C. Wells, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Papworth Hospital, Papworth Everard, Cambridge CB3 8RE, United Kingdom
francis.wells@papworth.nhs.uk

The first 300 words of the full text of this article appear below.


Wells (top)



and Crowe


In the normal course of events many men and women are born with various remarkable qualities and talents; but occasionally, in a way that transcends nature, a single person is marvellously endowed by heaven with beauty, grace, and talent in such abundance that he leaves other men far behind, all his actions seem inspired, and indeed everything he does clearly comes from God rather than from human art.

—Giorgio Vasari. Lives of the Painters, Sculptors and Architects, 1568

Is it possible that a self-educated man born 552 years ago this month could have anything to teach us about the conduct of modern clinical research? Those who are familiar with his achievements know that he is commonly described as a "man ahead of his time." Not only is this statement true of his contributions to painting, sculpture, and architecture, but also in engineering, military science, botany, geology, geography, hydraulics, aerodynamics, optics, and, of special interest to us, anatomy. Equally as impressive as the industry that Leonardo demonstrated in undertaking all of this work are his methods of investigating new ideas, many of which were truly ahead of their time.

The aim of this article is to demonstrate that the scientific methods of deduction and experimentation employed by Leonardo remain pertinent today. His ability to investigate a vast range of subjects by meticulous observation, rational thought, and teleological deductive reasoning, associated with a divine gift for drawing, produced anatomical and physiological revelations, elements of which remain relevant now. By applying rigorous contemporary methods of logic and rhetoric, he was able to derive important ideas and truths that were not recognized in his own time. Many of these deductions can only be properly appreciated in the light of current knowledge. Leonardo was greatly admired in his own . . . [Full Text of this Article]






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