The Principles of Chiropractic Philosophy

1. The Principles of Chiropractic Philosophy

2. In review: • The philosophy of chiropractic is derived from fundamental philosophical concepts

3. Philosophy – What Is It? • Literally: “Love (philo) of discourse (sophos) • The study of the laws and causes under-lying reality, leading to an understanding of its fundamental nature. • The process of integrating knowledge into a useful world view • The attempt to explain phenomena using of all available information

4. Metaphysics • the way we look at all of existence; the nature of the universe • Metaphysical concepts: 1. Materialism/physicalism 2. Idealism 3. Dualism

5. How does chiropractic philosophy relate? • “dualistic interactionism:” mind and matter are mutually interdependent; one can’t exist without the other

6. Biology • The study of life and living things • Biological Concepts: 1. Mechanism 2. Vitalism

7. How does chiropractic philosophy relate? • “critical vitalism” or “organicism:” Living things, including humans are more than the sum of their parts; “life” creates and maintains the conditions for its own existence; we can not be described as complex, carbon-based “machines” • We are “life in matter inseparably”

8. Dr. Lipton’s ideas: • The universe, and, hence humans in it, are most accurately described in terms of energy (it is a quantum universe) • The human body and its behavior (life) are not machine-like, and thus we are not controlled/victimized by our genes

9. Dr. Lipton’s ideas: • The behavior of our cells, and thus of our whole body, is controlled by signals (energy) from the environment • For our body’s cells, these signals (energy) are generated by the central nervous system (brain); the control of behavior is therefore from Above-Down-Inside-Out (ADIO)

10. Laws D E D U C T I O N I N D U C T I O N THEORY Explanation of relationships CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK Empirical generalizations RESEARCH HYPOTHESES Predicted relationships FACTS Empiricalobservations

11. Philosophic Methodology • Philosophy works through deductive reasoning • Deduction: “to pull out of” • To derive meaningful conclusions from general principles through logical reasoning • Based on assumptions accepted a priori as true • Usually reasoning from the more general principle to the more specific case

12. The Syllogism– Philosophy’s Basic Argument • A Major Premise: • All humans have the capacity to heal themselves • A Minor Premise: • You are a human being • The Logical Conclusion: • You have the capacity to heal yourself

13. Strengths of Deductive Reasoning • Can allow us to reason beyond our experience • Immeasurable, immaterial, subjective, unique • 100% certainty of conclusions • We reason to understand, in order to act • Our willingness to act is often based on our confidence in our conclusions

14. Limitations of Deductive Reasoning • Quality of the assumptions – are they true? • Can come from anywhere / accepted as true • False assumptions lead to uncertain conclusions • Quality of the logic – is it valid? • Errors can produce false conclusions from true premises or true conclusions from false premises! • Deduction is not self-testing • Conclusions need to be tested against reality

15. The Thirty-Three Principles An Introduction Originally authored by R. W. Stephenson Reordered, categorized and edited by David B. Koch, D.C. and the PCC Philosophy faculty

16. The Thirty-Three Principles are a compilation of B.J. Palmer’s philosophy, as described by R.W. Stephenson Chiropractic Text Book, 1927

17. The original Thirty-Three Principles (see handout) are a study in deductive logic, proceeding from a major premise to specific applications in biology and the human body

18. You will examine the Thirty-three Principles and their application in depth in Phil 113 (4th trimester)

19. The “Reorganized 33 Principles: (see handout) • In 2003, Dr. David Koch, then a professor of philosophy at PCC, published a review of the Principles, in which they were renumbered, categorized, and edited, without changing the overall concepts or their intent • Many remain identical to the original language

20. The Principles Categorized: • Universal Principles (1-14) • Biological Principles (15-30 • Chiropractic Principles(31-33)

21. The Universal Principles • The first 14 principles outline the concept of an intelligent universe, define and characterize its ability to self-organize, and establish the relationship between its organizing intelligence and the matter of which the universe is composed. These are called the universal principles.

22. The Universal Principles 1. The Major Premise There is a universal intelligence in all matter, continuously giving to it all its properties and actions, thus maintaining it in existence, and giving this intelligence its expression.

23. The Major Premise • Establishes an immaterial/material duality within a unity of existence • Establishes a mutual interdependence between intelligence and substance • Avoids natural/supernatural duality* *Chiropractic is a philosophy, science and art of things natural… Stephenson’s Chiropractic Textbook, Article 2, p. xiii

24. A definition of intelligence • The property of an organized system that is assumed to create the specific relationships within that system and/or cause the organized actions of that system. • Immaterial – active in brains, bushes, bacteria • Recognized by its effect – organization • If intelligence causes organization, organization implies intelligent action

25. The Biological Principles • The next 16 principles explore the topic of “life,” identifying the self-organizing potential of a living thing as its innate intelligence and describ-ing the unique, constructive forces created within living things to main-tain their organization. These are the biological principles.

26. The Chiropractic Principles • The last 3 principles are specific to living organisms with nerve systems and spinal columns, characterizing the role of the forces traveling over these structures and identifying the problem of interference and dis-ease (incoordination). They are termed the chiropractic principles.

27. Some inspiring words: “ As a student of chiropractic, I have learned awe for the human body and the capability for humans to grow, heal and adapt to new stressors. The chemical dance maintained by innate intelligence from moment to moment is astounding….

28. Some inspiring words: …The mechanical balance achieved by the opposition of flexors and extensors using the bones of the body as levers is stunning. The development of an entire person from two haploid cells is truly awesome…

29. Some inspiring words: …And the fact that I am blessed to have helped patients improve their neurological function through chiropractic adjustments is humbling.” Jennifer Wojcik, PCC class 072