Pharmakos

Pharmakos is an ancient Greek term that refers to a human scapegoat ritually expelled from the community to purify it from pollution or sin. In the context of pharmacology, the term has been adopted to refer to the concept of a drug or medicine.

Etymology

The term "Pharmakos" is derived from the Greek word "φάρμακον" (pharmakon), which can mean "drug", "medicine", "poison", or "spell". The ambiguity of the term reflects the dual nature of drugs, which can both heal and harm.

Historical Context

In ancient Greek society, the pharmakos was a person chosen to bear the sins of the community. They were often a criminal, slave, or marginal figure, who was ritually expelled or even killed to cleanse the community of sin or pollution. This practice is thought to have influenced the development of the concept of the scapegoat in later religious traditions.

Pharmakos in Pharmacology

In modern pharmacology, the term "pharmakos" is used to refer to a drug or medicine. This reflects the dual nature of drugs, which can both heal and harm. The development and testing of new drugs often involves a process of trial and error, in which the potential benefits of a drug are weighed against its potential harms. This process can be seen as a modern form of the ancient pharmakos ritual, in which a drug is 'expelled' from use if its harms outweigh its benefits.

See Also

• Pharmacology
• Drug development
• Clinical trial
• Drug safety