Essay on Great Books: William Harvey, “On the Circulation of the Blood” William Harvey, a world-famous scientist, is known for having made the most important to humanity. Harvey's research concluded that the blood circulating throughout the body was a continuous flow in one direction. His discovery began modern cardiology and an increase in observational experiments that were thereafter conducted. William Harvey was born in England in 1578 where he grew up until moving to Padua, Italy, to attend a university where he he graduated in Medicine to become a doctor. Harvey later returned to England and practiced as chief physician at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. In 1618 Harvey was chosen as physician to James I, but he did not limit himself to being a doctor. Harvey's fascination with the vascular system had led him to discover the circulation of blood within the body. In 1628 he published his complete dissertation "On the Circulation of the Blood" to explain the continuous flow of blood through the body and the transformation of the venous system into blood. arterial blood that has taken place in the lungs. His publication received a lot of criticism from other doctors, he lost his reputation, but despite this he continued to advance his career. The main reason for the criticism was because his ideas went against those of Galen who was considered a master of medical philosophy. Not many dared to challenge Galen's widely accepted views on medicine and the functioning of the body. Galen's theory proposed the idea that the liver was the center of blood circulation within the body. His theory also held that blood passed between the ventricles through “invisible pores,” he believed that the artery… middle of paper… d. Harvey discovered that the heart is the cause of the propulsion for the circulation of the blood and learned that the blood all flowed continuously in one direction. William Harvey's discoveries enabled a better understanding of blood circulation and revolutionized the world of science as we know it. Works Cited"Clinical CardiologyVolume 8, number 4, article first published online: 4 FEB 2009." William Harvey and the discovery of the circulation of the blood. Np, nd Web. 10 March 2014.."Harvey, William. C1510–1590. On the Movement of the Heart and Blood in Animals. Vol. 38, Part 3. The Harvard Classics." Harvey, William. C1510–1590. On the movement of the heart and blood in animals. vol. 38, part 3. The Harvard Classics. Np, nd Web. 15 March. 2014. .