References
1. Maxwell, H & Selwyn, S 1947, A History of Medicine, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, p. 178.
2. Heisenberg, W 1975, Across the Frontiers, Harper & Row, New York.
Table 3.1 Summary of different worldviews: paradigm of Man and the universea
Worldview paradigm
Basis of the paradigm
Origins of the material world
Philosophy of health and healing
Relationship of body and mind
aThe ancient worldview from approximately 150,000 years ago with the rise of modern man, Homo sapiens, and still persisting in many
indigenous cultures today is that the world is alive with energy: all things have an energetic aspect, not only plants and animals, but also the
Early western view (~5000 BC to
1200 AD)
Phenomenological view based on
observation, with tendency to see
world from a more logical, causal
perspective. Man apart from other
living things, with relationship to
personal gods. Vital force animates
living things: animism or vitalism.
Greek philosophers’ view based on
the concepts of ideal forms and flows
of the physis or vital energy. This
view developed from 500 to 400 BC
and was codified in the writings of
Plato, Aristotle, Hippocrates and
Democritus between 400 and 100
BC.
In the West, the Platonic and
Hippocratic beliefs dominated the
worldview until the Renaissance.
There exist non-physical and non-
mental forms, ideal forms, that are an
absolute and eternal reality of which
the phenomena of the world are an
imperfect and transitory reflection.
Platonic view: material world
originates from the plata or ideal
forms that exist only in the non-
material world yet manifest as
imperfect copies in the material
world.
The physical world was seen as the
representation of the non-material
plata or energetic templates, with the
physical body maintained by the flow
of physis. Physis was perceived as a
healing power or self-adjusting power
within the body that ‘though
untaught and uninstructed, does what
is proper to preserve a perfect
equilibrium’. Physis is the root of the
word physician.
When there is sufficient physis or
vital energy, health is maintained; lack
of health is caused primarily by a
diminished supply of this essential
substance.
The physical world was seen as the
representation of the non-material
plata or energetic templates. The
physical body is maintained by the
flow of physis, an unseen healing
power within the body.
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Eastern view (~5000 BC to present)
Phenomenological view based on
observation, with a tendency to see
the world from a more intuitive,
holistic perspective. Cosmology
reflected in Man: ‘In the macrocosm
is the microcosm.’
• Yogic view: based on the flows of
prana (cosmic energy) from the air.
This view developed between 5000
and 1500 BC and was codified in
the sutras of Patañjali by
approximately 1500 BC.
• Chinese view: based on the flows of
ch’i, Shen and Jing from cosmic
energy. This view developed
between 3000 and 300 BC and was
codified in the Nei Ching between
100 BC and 100 AD.
These ancient models of a physical
world manifesting from consciousness
was confirmed using inductive
reasoning from the whole to
understand the pieces. This system of
using qualitative standards persisted
in the East into the past century, with
a revival in this century.
The material world is maya (yogic) or
illusion (Zen) and manifests from
energetic templates.
Yogic view: the material world
originates from pure consciousness or
the Logos as monads that then
manifest as matter.
Zen view: the material world
originates from No Form (Clear
Light Mind) and via the interaction
of the two great polarities, yin and
yang, that follow the Law of Five
Elements manifesting and sustaining
physical matter.
The physical body was seen as a
manifestation of the underlying flows
of energy that structure and maintain
its coherence, homeostatic function.
Yogic view: pranic flows through
the chakra–nadi system maintain
homeostasis via control of the
endocrine and autonomic nervous
systems.
Chinese view: flows of ch’i
through the acupressure–acupuncture
system maintain homeostasis via
control of the organ systems and
secondarily via control of the
endocrine and autonomic nervous
systems.
Health is maintained by the
nutritive ch’i or prana distributed via
these energy systems.
Both the yogic and Chinese views
held immaterial mind and
consciousness the origin of the
material world, with no separation;
there is only body–mind–spirit.
Modern western view (~1200 AD to
early 1900 AD)
Based on observed physical objects
and their properties. The world is
seen as being derived from physical
matter alone and not incorporating
any subtle energetic components.
Living organisms, including Man, are
just an extension of these physical
dimensions, and life is maintained by
biochemical systems.
This view started with the
Renaissance and the development of
the scientific method. From repeated
observations of a limited number of
factors (reductionism), models were
created (described by mathematics)
and from these models predictions
were made of future outcomes (using
mathematics). When outcomes
match predictions, the model is valid.
Based on the atomic concept of
Democritus that there are only
physical atoms and empty space. The
physical sciences developed following
the deductive rules and principles of
rational reasoning, using precise
measurement to understand how the
pieces created the whole.
Democratic view: there exist only the
smallest indivisible units of physical
matter in the form of atoms and
empty space. During the Renaissance,
this view eclipsed the Platonic view,
which had dominated since the time
of the early Greeks.
Newtonian view: describes the
sensory world of ‘real’ physical matter
that follows the basic Newtonian
linear and logical laws of motion and
gravity. In the late 1600s, Newton
proposed his three laws of motion.
Believe only in the three-dimensional
world of our five senses. Everything is
based on solid atoms and electrons
and space, which is an empty vacuum.
Health and disease are related
only to physical anatomy and
physiology and the presence or
absence of disease entities. When
disease entities are present, only
physical elements are considered in
the creation and treatment of the
ailment.
Descartes solved the body–mind
problem by arguing that the mind is
immaterial and the realm of the soul,
whereas the body is material and
therefore an object for
experimentation.