Innate intelligence
Encyclopedia
Innate Intelligence is a chiropractic
term to describe the organizing properties of living things. It was originally coined by Daniel David Palmer
, the founder of chiropractic. This vitalistic
concept states that all life contains Innate (inborn) Intelligence and that this force is responsible for the organization, maintenance and healing of the body. Philosophically, chiropractors believe that they remove the interference to the nervous system
(by way of a spinal adjustment) and that when the spine
is in correct alignment, Innate Intelligence can act, by way of the nervous system, to heal disease within the body. The term is intimately connected with the term Universal Intelligence
.
It was presented by early chiropractic leaders as a part of chiropractic philosophy, that life is a triune of intelligence, force, and matter. Modern chiropractors study these principles in college and these ideas are seen as historical references to early chiropractic philosophy and science. Chiropractors — in common with all other healthcare professionals — recognize that the body has intrinsic healing abilities. Describing this healing ability as an "Innate Intelligence" is unique to chiropractic. Because of this early metaphysical
construct, the terminology of Innate Intelligence is considered potentially detrimental to the profession's development and reputation as it seeks acceptance in the greater scientific community
.
or the "non-conscious brain", or what causes homeostasis
. "However, by not later than 1906 the father of chiropractic had converted these adjectives into nouns, more precisely, proper names":
The following paragraph by B.J. Palmer describes his relationship to the concept of Innate Intelligence (all emphasis original):
Similarly at Life University, they have "embraced the idea that humans are spiritual beings whose lives are directed by universal laws including the natural, vitalistic, innate ability to develop, heal and adapt as long as the body is kept free of interferences."
One of the most notable groups placing the most emphasis on the body's Innate Intelligence is the Foundation for the Advancement of Chiropractic Education (F.A.C.E.). They practice what is known as Objective Straight Chiropractic, and do not attempt to treat disease, but only to correct vertebral subluxation
s.
In his book on the philosophy, art, and science of chiropractic, Virgil Strang, D.C., chiropractic philosopher and the seventh President of Palmer College of Chiropractic, discusses his thoughts on homeostasis:
Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on general health. It is generally categorized as complementary and alternative medicine...
term to describe the organizing properties of living things. It was originally coined by Daniel David Palmer
Daniel David Palmer
Daniel David Palmer or D.D. Palmer was the founder of chiropractic. Palmer was born in Pickering, near Toronto, Canada. While working as a magnetic healer in Davenport, Iowa, United States he encountered a janitor, Harvey Lillard, whose hearing was impaired...
, the founder of chiropractic. This vitalistic
Vitalism
Vitalism, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is#a doctrine that the functions of a living organism are due to a vital principle distinct from biochemical reactions...
concept states that all life contains Innate (inborn) Intelligence and that this force is responsible for the organization, maintenance and healing of the body. Philosophically, chiropractors believe that they remove the interference to the nervous system
Nervous system
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...
(by way of a spinal adjustment) and that when the spine
Vertebral column
In human anatomy, the vertebral column is a column usually consisting of 24 articulating vertebrae, and 9 fused vertebrae in the sacrum and the coccyx. It is situated in the dorsal aspect of the torso, separated by intervertebral discs...
is in correct alignment, Innate Intelligence can act, by way of the nervous system, to heal disease within the body. The term is intimately connected with the term Universal Intelligence
Universal Intelligence
Universal Intelligence is a term used by some to describe what they see as organization, or order of the universe. It has been described as "the intrinsic tendency for things to self-organize and co-evolve into ever more complex, intricately interwoven and mutually compatible forms."A general...
.
It was presented by early chiropractic leaders as a part of chiropractic philosophy, that life is a triune of intelligence, force, and matter. Modern chiropractors study these principles in college and these ideas are seen as historical references to early chiropractic philosophy and science. Chiropractors — in common with all other healthcare professionals — recognize that the body has intrinsic healing abilities. Describing this healing ability as an "Innate Intelligence" is unique to chiropractic. Because of this early metaphysical
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
construct, the terminology of Innate Intelligence is considered potentially detrimental to the profession's development and reputation as it seeks acceptance in the greater scientific community
Scientific community
The scientific community consists of the total body of scientists, its relationships and interactions. It is normally divided into "sub-communities" each working on a particular field within science. Objectivity is expected to be achieved by the scientific method...
.
History
The concept of Innate Intelligence was expanded upon by B.J. Palmer (D.D. Palmer's son) in the numerous books he wrote. Note that he spelled it with capital letters and it was frequently abbreviated ""II". Originally, it was taught as the "law of life", comparable to the subconsciousSubconscious
The term subconscious is used in many different contexts and has no single or precise definition. This greatly limits its significance as a definition-bearing concept, and in consequence the word tends to be avoided in academic and scientific settings....
or the "non-conscious brain", or what causes homeostasis
Homeostasis
Homeostasis is the property of a system that regulates its internal environment and tends to maintain a stable, constant condition of properties like temperature or pH...
. "However, by not later than 1906 the father of chiropractic had converted these adjectives into nouns, more precisely, proper names":
- "Nature, instinct, subconscious mind and intuition are terms often used to carry this idea of intelligence, but they do not express the sentiment fully." Vol. 1 The Science of Chiropractic its Principles and Philosophies by B.J. Palmer, D. C., Ph. C. 1920
- "Education, so far as health problems and religious theories are concerned, works from outside in; from below upward. Universal IntelligenceUniversal IntelligenceUniversal Intelligence is a term used by some to describe what they see as organization, or order of the universe. It has been described as "the intrinsic tendency for things to self-organize and co-evolve into ever more complex, intricately interwoven and mutually compatible forms."A general...
and Innate Intelligence work from above downward, within outward." B.J. Palmer Vol. 22 1949 pg. 56
- "The fundamental cause of all dis-ease lies between the Innate Intelligence and the body; in the interference to the normal and natural quantity efferent flow between Innate Intelligence and the body; in the interference to the normal and natural quantity afferent flow from body to Innate Intelligence. This interference between can make either sick." B.J. Palmer Vol. 22 1949
- "Various terms can be synonymously used, such as force, energy, power, electricity, mental impulse, nerve force, etc., depending upon whether we refer to the activating agent external to or the motivating agent internal to the human body." B.J. Palmer Vol. 22 1949
The following paragraph by B.J. Palmer describes his relationship to the concept of Innate Intelligence (all emphasis original):
- IT WAS HERE IN THIS ONE ROOM, the Great Teacher and Master of ALL people of ALL times, was Innate. IT WAS HERE with these retired personalities, with their every-day personal products, I learned the basic truths of Chiropractic and how to become a Chiropractor.
- Up till THIS period of MY life, I was INVOLVING MY thots, words, and acts much like so many have done and were doing. The “I” was egotistic as well as egoistic.
- After THIS period of OUR life, WE began EVOLVING like few people do or have done. From then on, WE thot, spoke, and acted. From then on, “I” was humble in the presence of Innate within as WE lived together.
- IT WAS THERE, plus time, IN THIS ONE ROOM, I found MYself. WE found OURselves—INNATE AND I—until EACH lost his or her singular and single identity and became a plural duality, to eventually walk down the byways and highways together the rest of OUR lives (1961, p. 163).
-
- (Palmer’s use of capital lettering as well as his unusual spelling of “thot” were his ways of emphasizing concepts.)
Different interpretations
The concept of Innate Intelligence can have different meanings to different people for what it describes:- Innate as synonym for homeostasis - "This is considered the most common interpretation by chiropractors".
- Innate as a label for our ignorance - There is much that is unknown about human physiology, hence, unexplained phenomena are sometimes attributed to "Mother Nature", or "Vis medicatrix naturaeVis medicatrix naturaeVis medicatrix naturae is the Latin translation of the Greek, νονσων φνσεις ιητροι, a phrase attributed to Hippocrates but which he did not actually use...
" (Latin for the healing power of nature).
- Innate as vitalistic “explanation” - If using a vitalistic philosophy, innate can be used to give a name to that which creates the vital force, often a "part" of God.
- Innate as metaphysical premise - "When used as an a priori assumption, rather than as a hypothetical construct".
Current usage
The term "Innate Intelligence" (sometimes abbreviated "II") is still used by certain chiropractors. At Palmer College of Chiropractic the definition of Chiropractic states, "Chiropractic philosophy begins with the principle that the human organism has an innate power to maintain its own health" and includes "This unique health care approach views the body as having an innate, natural ability to adapt to changes in its internal and external environments and maintain itself in a state of health."Similarly at Life University, they have "embraced the idea that humans are spiritual beings whose lives are directed by universal laws including the natural, vitalistic, innate ability to develop, heal and adapt as long as the body is kept free of interferences."
One of the most notable groups placing the most emphasis on the body's Innate Intelligence is the Foundation for the Advancement of Chiropractic Education (F.A.C.E.). They practice what is known as Objective Straight Chiropractic, and do not attempt to treat disease, but only to correct vertebral subluxation
Vertebral subluxation
Vertebral subluxation is a term that is commonly used by some chiropractors to describe signs and symptoms of the spinal column. Those chiropractors who assert this concept also add a visceral component to the definition...
s.
In his book on the philosophy, art, and science of chiropractic, Virgil Strang, D.C., chiropractic philosopher and the seventh President of Palmer College of Chiropractic, discusses his thoughts on homeostasis:
- "We know that homeostasis involves negative feedback. We even know some of the mechanisms entailed. But this knowledge does not really touch the deeper mystery of how the body "thinks" physiologically: sensory information must be endlessly integrated and efferent activity determined.
- The stringing together of mechanisms cannot be expected to capture the overall reality of organic, dynamic activity. Classic mechanistic thinking is rooted in the notion that the parts explain the whole. This is true of mechanistic processes such as gearing or even electronic computing. But as Aristotle observed, nature is a world of purpose. In such a world, mechanisms are merely the instruments through which superimposing purposes work their will.
- It is this marvelous, innate(inborn), purposeful nature which is the predominant, practical reality behind the mechanisms of homeostasis."
See also
- Dualism (philosophy of mind)Dualism (philosophy of mind)In philosophy of mind, dualism is a set of views about the relationship between mind and matter, which begins with the claim that mental phenomena are, in some respects, non-physical....
- MetaphysicsMetaphysicsMetaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
- NeuroimmunologyNeuroimmunologyNeuroimmunology is a field combining neuroscience, the study of the nervous system, and immunology, the study of the immune system. Neuroimmunologists seek to better understand the interactions of these two complex systems during development, homeostasis, and response to injuries...
- QiQiIn traditional Chinese culture, qì is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as life energy, lifeforce, or energy flow. Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts...
- Universal IntelligenceUniversal IntelligenceUniversal Intelligence is a term used by some to describe what they see as organization, or order of the universe. It has been described as "the intrinsic tendency for things to self-organize and co-evolve into ever more complex, intricately interwoven and mutually compatible forms."A general...
- VitalismVitalismVitalism, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is#a doctrine that the functions of a living organism are due to a vital principle distinct from biochemical reactions...
- List of topics characterized as pseudoscience
External links
- WCA paper on Innate Intelligence
- The Meanings of Innate by Joseph C. Keating, Jr., PhD
- The Awakening of Intelligence A site exploring J. Krishnamurti's views on innate intelligence.