Critical thinking (was research and pattern dx)

January 21, 2002

Alon,

>

> Empiricism, as our friend Alon will no

> doubt testify, is a powerfully persuasive

> point of view. And the Chinese seem to

> have blended it into their most fundamental

> theories.

> >>>>Yes but one that still bags critical review

Critical review is the factor that you've

been asking after in another thread.

Without it, we tend, as a group, to

drift mindlessly.

Understanding the way that the Chinese

include a theoretical principle about

the supremacy of empirical experience

and results into the body of theory

that has accumulated around the art

of medicine is a key to grasping the

correct application of these theories.

This interweaving of themes and threads

that often seem to Western minds as

mutually exclusive opposites (eg.

theory vs. empiricism) is largely

accomplished through the language and

by reference via deceits of language

to certain literary antecedents, such

as the great works of philosophy.

A turn of phrase in classical Chinese

can direct the reader's mind to a

whole school of thought and thereby

invoke certain associations with

bodies of knowledge that stand outside

the text in hand. This is a typical

feature of the classical literature

that was so often written in what

Lin Yu Tang calls a " coterie language "

that " worked by suggestion. "

These dimensions of the medical

literature can only be reached

with an appreciation of the

language as a dynamic element in

the knowledge base of the subject.

And as you seem to insist in the other thread

about peer review, the attention of

the group on the contents of our

critical thinking is an absolute

prerequisite to the ongoing refinement

of this knowledge base.

The peer review of Chinese medical

literature goes on and on. It's time

that we take responsibility for this

fact and for our own contributions

to this age old process.

I keep talking about this because

beyond getting people to see and

to realize how important the study

of the language and the medical

literature is, people have to actually

do something about it.

I appreciate hearing from the individuals

who have decided to take up the study

personally. As I said, I am carrying out

a gress-roots campaign to increase the

awareness about this aspect of the

study of Chinese medicine. And I

recognize that in public forums, you

have to repeat your message dozens of

times in order to get it heard.

We need this message to propagate

among the communty widely and deeply.

There is no organized body pushing to

see this study included in the education

of doctors of Chinese medicine. For

the most part, the agencies that constitute

the status quo oppose such a move.

If there's anybody on this list that

opposes the idea, I hope he or she will

take the time to share their thoughts.

And if people have grudgingly accepted

it as a fact of life but one that only

has to do with new students and not

with themselves, I urge them to reconsider.

For me it's all a matter of quality.

The quality of your understanding.

The quality of your thinking.

The quality of your mind and therefore

the quality of the most basic tools

with which you treat your patients.

Ken

January 21, 2002

For me it's all a matter of quality.The quality of your understanding.The quality of your thinking.The quality of your mind and thereforethe quality of the most basic toolswith which you treat your patients.

>>>Agreed except I would add the quality of audit of ones as well as collected work.

Alon

-

dragon90405

Monday, January 21, 2002 8:38 AM

Critical thinking (was Re: research and pattern dx)

Alon,> > Empiricism, as our friend Alon will no> doubt testify, is a powerfully persuasive> point of view. And the Chinese seem to> have blended it into their most fundamental> theories.> >>>>Yes but one that still bags critical reviewCritical review is the factor that you'vebeen asking after in another thread.Without it, we tend, as a group, todrift mindlessly.Understanding the way that the Chineseinclude a theoretical principle aboutthe supremacy of empirical experienceand results into the body of theorythat has accumulated around the artof medicine is a key to grasping thecorrect application of these theories.This interweaving of themes and threadsthat often seem to Western minds asmutually exclusive opposites (eg.theory vs. empiricism) is largelyaccomplished through the language andby reference via deceits of language to certain literary antecedents, such as the great works of philosophy.A turn of phrase in classical Chinesecan direct the reader's mind to awhole school of thought and therebyinvoke certain associations withbodies of knowledge that stand outsidethe text in hand. This is a typicalfeature of the classical literaturethat was so often written in whatLin Yu Tang calls a "coterie language"that "worked by suggestion."These dimensions of the medicalliterature can only be reachedwith an appreciation of thelanguage as a dynamic element inthe knowledge base of the subject.And as you seem to insist in the other threadabout peer review, the attention ofthe group on the contents of ourcritical thinking is an absoluteprerequisite to the ongoing refinementof this knowledge base.The peer review of Chinese medicalliterature goes on and on. It's timethat we take responsibility for thisfact and for our own contributionsto this age old process. I keep talking about this becausebeyond getting people to see andto realize how important the studyof the language and the medical literature is, people have to actuallydo something about it.I appreciate hearing from the individualswho have decided to take up the studypersonally. As I said, I am carrying outa gress-roots campaign to increase theawareness about this aspect of thestudy of Chinese medicine. And Irecognize that in public forums, youhave to repeat your message dozens oftimes in order to get it heard.We need this message to propagateamong the communty widely and deeply.There is no organized body pushing tosee this study included in the educationof doctors of Chinese medicine. Forthe most part, the agencies that constitutethe status quo oppose such a move.If there's anybody on this list thatopposes the idea, I hope he or she willtake the time to share their thoughts.And if people have grudgingly acceptedit as a fact of life but one that onlyhas to do with new students and notwith themselves, I urge them to reconsider.For me it's all a matter of quality.The quality of your understanding.The quality of your thinking.The quality of your mind and thereforethe quality of the most basic toolswith which you treat your patients.KenChinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed healthcare practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics specializing in Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional services, including board approved online continuing education.