The world from ages witnessed the appearance of several societies. One of the great societies is the ancient Greek society. The Greek society was well known by its huge knowledge and values. The knowledge they had was a result of studying other civilizations’ works and completing their unfinished works (Ancient). They were more interested in understanding the world rather than in manipulating the world. The ancient Greek society like any other society was very cautious for its continuance. They believed if the knowledge they had was in the wrong hands; it will lead to many conflicts in the society, and it might lead to lose their values too. So they were very concerned about who has the right to seek and practice knowledge. Therefore, the Hippocratic oath appeared. The Hippocratic oath is a text that requires physicians to swear in several gods (Wikimedia). The image of the Hippocratic oath indicates that to the ancient Greeks their values were more important than their knowledge and it is a huge a prove that Greeks were concerned about the abuse of knowledge to their values.  

For the ancient Greeks, the abuse of knowledge might affect their values. Therefore, they wrote the Hippocratic oath to make sure that the practice of knowledge does not conflict with their values and to put some borders. We do not know who wrote it, who exactly took it and even how it can be used. Moreover, the oath explained several features about the Greek society. First, the student must treat the master like his own parents “I will pay the same respect to my master in science as to my parents and share my life with him and pay all my debts to him.” (The 1). This statement strongly indicates the priority of values over knowledge. To the ancient Greeks the student must know his position and ask the student to keep in mind the favor he owes to his master. Next, the limitation of seeking knowledge. The oath mentioned clearly that not just anyone could have their knowledge. “I will regard his sons as my brothers and teach them the science, if they desire to learn it, without fee or contract.” (The 1). The first group the oath allowed them to seek knowledge is the sons of the student’s master. The oath clearly gave the master’s sons the right to seek knowledge. And it presented one of the Greeks great values, that do not force someone to seek knowledge if he’s not desire to, even if he was the master’s son. The second group is the student’s sons. “I will hand on precepts, lectures and all other learning to my sons,” (The 1). The oath expanded the trust from the student to his sons, probably as a way to reward the student for his loyalty. The third and last group as the oath indicates is the pupils duly and those who had sworn “to those of my master and to those pupils duly apprenticed and sworn, and to none other.” (The 1). However, in this statement the oath indicates the fear of the abuse of knowledge too by not giving anyone, who is not in the three groups, the right to seek knowledge. That means, basically, no one was capable of seeking knowledge if he did not swear which is the majority of the Hippocratic oath. That shows how the Greeks were very concerned about who they can pass their knowledge. And this concern clearly reflects the danger of the abuse of knowledge.   

Moving away from seeking knowledge to the actual practice of knowledge, the oath indicates clearly that physicians are not allowed to use their power and knowledge to harm or wrong any patient “I will use my power to help the sick to the best of my ability and judgement; I will abstain from harming or wronging any man by it.” (The 1). This requirement presents another great value of the ancient Greek society and it shows how peaceful they were and how they were very concerned about preserving the relationship between physician and patient. Another value which was presented in the previous statement is to not give up in the patient. The oath asks physicians to use all their power to help the sick and save nothing for later. It basically says that the patient is the physician’s priority and they have to use all of their potential for the patient’s sake. In addition, the oath prohibits any way to harm the patient by giving him a poison, even if he was asked to, and prohibits physicians to suggest someone else to harm their patients “I will not give a fatal draught to anyone if I am asked, nor will I suggest any such thing.” (The 1). This highly concern of the patient’s life shows how the ancient Greek society cares about their citizens and how they were peaceful too. Moreover, the Greek society did not care about its citizens only, they expanded their worry to the embryo inside women by not giving any physicians the right to procure an abortion “Neither will I give a woman means to procure an abortion.” (The 1). This care reflects the magnificent of the ancient Greeks’ humanity. To the Greeks the embryo might not have a body yet, but there is a soul which is growing inside the women’s womb and that soul has the right to show up on earth. 

Shifting from the actual practice of knowledge to whom who receives treatment. The oath prohibited any physicians to abuse their position to participate in any sexual insults “Whenever I go into a house, I will go to help the sick and never with the intention of doing harm or injury. I will not abuse my position to indulge in sexual contacts with the bodies of women or men, whether they be freemen or slave.” (The 1). This statement shows that there were sexual insults back there and how they were against it. And it also indicates how they cared about the patient’s honor.  In addition, they had concerned the slave as freemen without any division or racism, which indicates that Greek treated slaves as human beings who have their own rights and duties. With this statement the oath presented that the Greek society was an egalitarian society. Moreover, the oath kept preserving the relationship between the physician and the patient by prohibiting any physician from revealing any patient’s secrets “Whatever I see or hear, professionally or privately, which ought not to be divulged, I will keep secret and tell no one.” (The 1). With this statement the Greeks basically were saving the patient’s privacy and did not let the patient’s condition affects his privacy. 

The ancient Greek society had a huge amount of knowledge indeed. But they did not allow this knowledge to conflict with their principles and values. The Hippocratic oath showed the ancient Greek society’s interest and concern in their values from seeking knowledge to the actual practice of knowledge. And from the practice of knowledge to whom who receives treatment. And gave features of the ancient Greeks vales such as the limitation of knowledge, the concern of the patient’s life and the egalitarian society. All the evidence listed above shows that the reason of all the greatness the ancient Greek society had is because of their values and wisdom. A great society is a society which preserves its values. 
