[William Harvey (2 April 1578)--400 years of physiology]

William Harvey, born on 2 April 1578, was the founder of modern scientific physiology. The importance of his work was that he was the first prominent exponent of the tremendous value of experimental physiology. By postulating the machine model of the circulatory system he also reinforced the idea of Descartes that man is a machine. During the past 400 years this model led to sensational discoveries on the one hand, as well as scientific limitations and cultural and spiritual crises on the other. Serious rethinking about prescientific and prephilosophic premises is urgently needed for the future.