Western Scientific Thought

[Guest guest]

In response to the threads on Western Medical/Scientific thought ...

You might want to read a small book by Thomas S. Kuhn, called The

Structure of Scientific Revolutions. I first read it when I was in college

in the 60's. As I recall it is about how scientific " truth " evolves or

changes. It may give one insight into how the (Western) scientific mind

works. This insight might be useful in establishing bridges between TCM and

WM. I am only a beginning student, but I can not see how, even it theory,

one could establish the validity of TCM using WM constructs or the other

way; establishing the validity of WM using TCM constructs.

 

The book should be readily available, I found several copies listed in the

LA public library.

 

Wendy Svitil

[Guest guest]

, Wendy Svitil <wsvitil@b...>

wrote:

but I can not see how, even it theory,

> one could establish the validity of TCM using WM constructs or

the other

> way; establishing the validity of WM using TCM constructs.

 

 

Have you read Kuhn. He is one of the most misunderstood and

misquoted authors of all time. He is very clear that normal

science of any era (which is modern science) can only be

challenged from within the paradigm. Only when the new

paradigm rends the fabric of an old paradigm can it emerge on

its own. Paradigms never arise spontaneously. If we want

chinese medicine to influence a new paradigm, the method

MUST start with normal science, according to Kuhn. So first we

must see what aspects of TCM can be validated and there are

many such aspects. When the tenets of TCM demand a new

viewpoint in order to be tested, then the new paradigm will

begin. But you can't sit around screaming about your new idea

and then assume it will emerge as a new paradigm without ever

directly confronting the old paradigm. challenging normal

science is the only way these things change.

 

todd