6 minute read
CHIROPRACTIC PHILOSOPHY
Adaptability is not merely a sign of life. I might suggest it is the physical manifestation of the presence of life itself. Let me explain in this short treatise and we will see if my words offer sufficient cause for this consideration.
The word adapt can be traced to the 1300’s and refers to the ability “to undergo modification to fit new circumstances.” The degree to which a living thing adapts determines its ability to not only thrive, but to even survive. Survival is all about adapting to stressors encountered by a living thing.
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As an example, as children many of us played a role in spinning a merrygo-round as fast as possible while one daring friend tried to stay on the quickly twirling playground equipment. When you stayed as close to the center as possible, the centrifugal force was less and it was easier to adapt. Once you adapted improperly, you found yourself outside the center, now working far harder to be thrown off by forces to which you could not adapt. At one point, your arms would be straining to keep your grip before you were eventually tossed off, flying through the air and hopefully landing with relative safety.
Odd illustration you say? Let’s make this an analogy of our Chiropractic philosophy. We know that the forces of Universal Intelligence tend to be destructive toward structural matter. Liken these to the forces pulling the child off the merry-go-round. At the same time, we will liken the forces exerted by the child to fight this, to the forces of Innate Intelligence. Innate Intelligence fights the forces attempting to break down the matter of the body. We recognize this as an intelligent function, not merely one of randomness or “luck.”
The forces of Universal Intelligence work to create entropy in matter. Entropy is the process of breaking down matter to its simplest units, while Innate Intelligence resists with its own efforts. Innate forces can be considered as forces of entropy resistance. As long as a living thing is not overcome by forces of entropy, it remains. When adaptation completely fails, as in the child being
thrown off, life ceases to exist.
The coordinated effort used to fight entropy in our example is little different from the way the Innate Intelligence of your body resists entropy in order to maintain a state of health. Current scientific research shows that as a state of entropy increases within an individual, health decreases. Likewise, as the ability to resist entropy increases, health increases. Even more interesting, as the flow of information decreases, health decreases.
Both of these concepts fit well within our Chiropractic philosophy. The scientific finding of a diminished ability to adapt results in decreased health is a foundational concept in Chiropractic. The purpose of a mental impulse is a directive to a tissue cell for a moment in time. As such, this information is vital to the healthy function of tissue cells. When this quantity flow of information is impeded, these researchers suggest that health is unquestionably decreased. Chiropractic’s vertebral subluxation, by definition, is just such an informational interference, resulting in reduced ability to reduce forces of entropy. We
recognize this from the Chiropractic analysis which seeks to identify diminished adaptability signifying the diminished mental impulse supply, to the specific adjustment that results in restoring adaptability and therefore optimal health.
In summary, unimpeded communication from Innate Intelligence results in resisting entropy, and the level of entropy resistance is commensurate with adaptability, and therefore proportional to health.
ADAPTING TO THE MERRY-GO-ROUND OF LIFE
Rob Sinnott, DC, FPhC
THE FUTURE WITH CHIROPRACTIC PHILOSOPHY
Peter Kevorkian, DC
When DD Palmer pushed on the spine of Harvey Lillard our profession was born. It is likely that DD thought for a moment that he found the “cure for deafness.” After observing other changes in people’s physiology, he thought he found the “cure for disease.” Only through his curiosity and logical exploration did he fully appreciate the magnitude and depth of what he discovered. This exploration sparked the formulation and development of chiropractic philosophy
I remember my first philosophy class in chiropractic college. We were taught that chiropractic philosophy gave us our “why” and that chiropractic is a philosophy, science, and art. I studied Stephenson’s thirty-three principles, the chiropractic triune of life, inductive and deductive reasoning, concepts of mechanism and vitalism. Although there are principles and concepts that define what we call chiropractic philosophy, I propose that it is much more than a regurgitation of memorized phrases of dogma. Chiropractic philosophy provides a framework and foundation from which to observe and employ the science and the artform. It is a dynamic exploration and an active engagement of curiosity. Chiropractic philosophy is not a static set of rules. It is a dynamic process of systematized deductive logic to offer insight and understanding to our world and what we offer with our unique service. It has and should continue to evolve.
The core value of our philosophical ideal is that there is order and organization to the universe. If indeed we accept this premise, we can deduce that all things that exist and happen in the universe, do so out of intelligent design. This perception can change meaning and can change how things influence us individually and as a culture. Our philosophy offers perspective and hence can provide direction on what to do.
As our knowledge grows, our philosophy also grows. I believe it is our responsibility to stand on the shoulders of the forefathers and foremothers of our profession. Philosophical growth and development are as important as the advancement of our techniques and the scientific inquiry. This does not nullify or change the fundamental principles; it should enhance them. The major premise remains constant. The logic of deductive reasoning remains constant. And the application of the principles and the philosophy should be molded to the needs and language of the times.
The world needs our perspective. It provides insight to feel empowered. It allows people an appreciation for the brilliance of natural law and insight into how to align better with those laws. I can only speculate where the world would be today if all the scientists, lawmakers and politicians had our philosophical perspective through the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As we look to the future of our profession, it is critical that we remain grounded in the vitalistic perspective of our philosophy. It will allow appropriate understanding and development of the science and art. It will offer the world a balance to the mechanistic viewpoint of the world. Holding true to our philosophy as we grow in knowledge will always humble us. No matter how much we know, there will be more that we don’t know. This perspective is the key to ensuring curiosity and continuing to pursue understanding.
The analysis and adjustment of spinal subluxations needs to remain central to the service of chiropractic. I believe how we view the subluxation phenomena and how we address it will change as we evolve our philosophical understanding. The adjustment will be considered less a “corrective” process and more an “optimally adaptive” process. Scientific investigation will strive to determine salutogenic change and input rather than pathogenic diagnosis and treatments.
Without clarity of our philosophy (our why) we will by default fall into the philosophy and perspectives that are dominant in the culture, the narrative of the times. With philosophical clarity, we become thought leaders and help heal and advance humanity.
