Was Appian's work purely observational?
While empirical observation was fundamental, my approach was not solely based on what I could see and hear. I integrated these observations with the philosophical and medical theories of my time, particularly humoral pathology. Thus, my deductions about mental states were filtered through the prevailing understanding of the body's internal constitution. This meant my explanations were a blend of observed phenomena and theoretical interpretation, rather than pure, unadulterated data collection as perhaps understood today.