organon: sam's concepts and methodology

Organon: Sam's Concepts and Methodology

with Karen Allen CCH

Organon: Sam's Concepts and Methodology

with Karen Allen CCH

Plan for Session 1 (of 11)

• Today we travel upstream from the Organon to earlier influences and sources

• Era of Enlightenment – Emergence of Homeopathy• Hahnemann's Training / School of Vienna• Introduction of Organon – Strategies for Study• Suggestions for Reading: Historical Documents• Questions?

Plan for Session 1 (of 11)

• Today we travel upstream from the Organon to earlier influences and sources

• Era of Enlightenment – Emergence of Homeopathy• Hahnemann's Training / School of Vienna• Introduction of Organon – Strategies for Study• Suggestions for Reading: Historical Documents• Questions?

Obstacles to The Organon

• Different era / different languaging– Multiple translations – thanks to Wenda for the new one!– Terminology – begin to scan a page from the glossary daily– Hahnemann's communication style (ranting, bashing, argh)

• Concepts disruptive for current dominant paradigm – Everyone has BIASES – me, you, everyone– Reading this material will challenge your biases


• Different era / different languaging– Multiple translations – thanks to Wenda for the new one!– Terminology – begin to scan a page from the glossary daily– Hahnemann's communication style (ranting, bashing, argh)

• Concepts disruptive for current dominant paradigm – Everyone has BIASES – me, you, everyone– Reading this material will challenge your biases


• Some Concepts that do not hold up well in 2014– Hahnemann makes statements that were the best of scientific

knowledge of his time, but known to be untrue now – How does this affect our belief / acceptance of his teachings?

• Importance of investigation / assessment / discussion!!


• Some Concepts that do not hold up well in 2014– Hahnemann makes statements that were the best of scientific

knowledge of his time, but known to be untrue now – How does this affect our belief / acceptance of his teachings?

• Importance of investigation / assessment / discussion!!

The Stream of Homeopathy

• Focusing in on homeopathy– What it is and what it isn’t– Governing principles– Where it applies and where it doesn’t

• What were the influences around Hahnemann– How did his training impact his discoveries?– Societal influences? Larger patterns?– Let's inquire further on this...

The Stream of Homeopathy

• Focusing in on homeopathy– What it is and what it isn’t– Governing principles– Where it applies and where it doesn’t

• What were the influences around Hahnemann– How did his training impact his discoveries?– Societal influences? Larger patterns?– Let's inquire further on this...

The Homeopathic Realm

The Homeopathic Realm

Era of Enlightenment1650 - 1800

• Causes – What is the Back Story?– Thirty Years' War (1618 to 1648) grossly destructive– Situation extreme enough to cause thought leaders to question

ideas of nationalism and warfare, to buck against tradition and advocate for better solutions

– Interest in scientific study (lots of world exploration happening)– Centuries of mistreatment from monarchs / church pushed the

average citizen to a point of rebellion, prompting intellectuals to speak out / write / criticize


• Causes – What is the Back Story?– Thirty Years' War (1618 to 1648) grossly destructive– Situation extreme enough to cause thought leaders to question

ideas of nationalism and warfare, to buck against tradition and advocate for better solutions

– Interest in scientific study (lots of world exploration happening)– Centuries of mistreatment from monarchs / church pushed the

average citizen to a point of rebellion, prompting intellectuals to speak out / write / criticize


• Pre- enlightenment Accumulation of Knowledge

– Johannes Kepler / Galileo Galilei showed Aristotle's teaching to be incorrect

– René Descartes and Francis Bacon revised the scientific method

– Isaac Newton discovered laws of motion in physics

• RESULT: Emergence of the scientific method (hypothesis, observation, experiment, conclude, refine)

• (and backlash of scorn and skepticism from people in the religious community)


• Pre- enlightenment Accumulation of Knowledge

– Johannes Kepler / Galileo Galilei showed Aristotle's teaching to be incorrect

– René Descartes and Francis Bacon revised the scientific method

– Isaac Newton discovered laws of motion in physics

• RESULT: Emergence of the scientific method (hypothesis, observation, experiment, conclude, refine)

• (and backlash of scorn and skepticism from people in the religious community)

Light Shining1650 - 1800

• 1688 England: protestant citizenry overthrew King James II (Catholic) and throned King William and Queen Mary.

• The English government ratified a Bill of Rights for citizens. In 1702 the first English Language newspaper is published 'The Daily Courant'

• Mid 1700s in France:

– Baron de Montesquieu promoted separation of powers by dividing government functions.

– Voltaire used satire and criticism to promote change of social attitudes and politics. (Read Voltaire's Candide and it's commentary)

– Denis Diderot created the Encyclopédie, eventually growing to 35 volumes, propagating Enlightenment knowledge to other countries


• 1688 England: protestant citizenry overthrew King James II (Catholic) and throned King William and Queen Mary.

• The English government ratified a Bill of Rights for citizens. In 1702 the first English Language newspaper is published 'The Daily Courant'

• Mid 1700s in France:

– Baron de Montesquieu promoted separation of powers by dividing government functions.

– Voltaire used satire and criticism to promote change of social attitudes and politics. (Read Voltaire's Candide and it's commentary)



• DEVELOPMENTS IN economics, law, industrial technology, humanitarianism, women's rights, music and MEDICINE


• DEVELOPMENTS IN economics, law, industrial technology, humanitarianism, women's rights, music and MEDICINE

Light Glimmeringin Germany (ish)

• At this time, Germany / Prussia was divided into many smaller states, mostly ruled by local despots who stifled intellectual development

• Literary language in this region was Latin, so it was hard to distribute other Enlightenment works in English / French etc

• There was not a discontent middle class to fight with the aristocracy• There was not an angered religious counterculture to fight with the

church


• At this time, Germany / Prussia was divided into many smaller states, mostly ruled by local despots who stifled intellectual development

• Literary language in this region was Latin, so it was hard to distribute other Enlightenment works in English / French etc

• There was not a discontent middle class to fight with the aristocracy• There was not an angered religious counterculture to fight with the

church


• Germany's Enlightenment era focused on science

– Leibniz developed mathematics / calculus– Baron de Montesquieu promoted separation of powers by

dividing government functions. – Voltaire used satire and criticism to promote change of social

attitudes and politics. (Read Voltaire's Candide and it's commentary)


• RESULT: Created political unity and moved forward scientific knowledge, while also supporting skepticism


• Germany's Enlightenment era focused on science

– Leibniz developed mathematics / calculus– Baron de Montesquieu promoted separation of powers by

dividing government functions. – Voltaire used satire and criticism to promote change of social

attitudes and politics. (Read Voltaire's Candide and it's commentary)


• RESULT: Created political unity and moved forward scientific knowledge, while also supporting skepticism

Light Glimmeringin Medicine

• Til this point, medical knowledge based on tradition, superstition• Extremely limited understanding of healthy, hygiene, medical

intervention• Hospitals first began to appear in the 1700s (Britian and France)

– First run by charitable aristocrats, focus on decreasing mortality in childbirth, smallpox, etc

– Later run by Governments that realized sick citizens appreciated the state support in disease care and cost less than letting them die unattended


• Til this point, medical knowledge based on tradition, superstition• Extremely limited understanding of healthy, hygiene, medical

intervention• Hospitals first began to appear in the 1700s (Britian and France)

– First run by charitable aristocrats, focus on decreasing mortality in childbirth, smallpox, etc

– Later run by Governments that realized sick citizens appreciated the state support in disease care and cost less than letting them die unattended


• Emergence of hospitals depended on the Enlightenment– Changed attitudes of the public regarding healthcare

(less superstition and stigma about sickness)– Doctors began to accept and teach concepts of

hygiene


• Emergence of hospitals depended on the Enlightenment– Changed attitudes of the public regarding healthcare

(less superstition and stigma about sickness)– Doctors began to accept and teach concepts of

hygiene

End of Enlightenment1800 (ish)

• In the pendulum swing between intellect and emotion, between reason and feeling, the Enlightenment eventually lost ground

– 2 centuries of incredible intellectual / scientific / philosophical growth

– Skeptic, Immanuel Kant in Germany, 'Critique of Pure Reason', argued that there are no universal truths and all experience depends on the psyche of the observer

– Challenged reason–based assertion– More education of common populus with more availability of

written materials - they found Romanticism more appealing than science


• In the pendulum swing between intellect and emotion, between reason and feeling, the Enlightenment eventually lost ground

– 2 centuries of incredible intellectual / scientific / philosophical growth

– Skeptic, Immanuel Kant in Germany, 'Critique of Pure Reason', argued that there are no universal truths and all experience depends on the psyche of the observer

– Challenged reason–based assertion– More education of common populus with more availability of

written materials - they found Romanticism more appealing than science


• FRENCH REVOLUTION ended enlightenment

– French citizens inspired by Enlightenment philosophy revolted– Attempted to create representative assemblies– Quickly resulted in chaos and violence, breakdown of normal

social convention

• RESULT: Conclusion that the masses cannot govern themselves / Enlightenement philosophies were not stable / viable


• FRENCH REVOLUTION ended enlightenment

– French citizens inspired by Enlightenment philosophy revolted– Attempted to create representative assemblies– Quickly resulted in chaos and violence, breakdown of normal

social convention

• RESULT: Conclusion that the masses cannot govern themselves / Enlightenement philosophies were not stable / viable

Hahnemann's Contributionl He didn't start itl Part of a movement in the Era of Enlightenmentl Cristoph Wilhelm Hufeland: train doctors in a

practical form of medicine “by the patient's bedside”

l School of Vienna, von Quarin, Stoerkl Science of pharmacopeia/therapeuticsl Attention to the sick person

l Hahnemann's GOALl Stop administering meds without knowledgel Learn properties of medicinal substances

l Reference: 'The Sources of Homeopathy' by Corine Mure / Andre Giordan / Daniel Raichvarg from Editions Boiron

Hahnemann's Contributionl He didn't start itl Part of a movement in the Era of Enlightenmentl Cristoph Wilhelm Hufeland: train doctors in a

practical form of medicine “by the patient's bedside”

l School of Vienna, von Quarin, Stoerkl Science of pharmacopeia/therapeuticsl Attention to the sick person

l Hahnemann's GOALl Stop administering meds without knowledgel Learn properties of medicinal substances

l Reference: 'The Sources of Homeopathy' by Corine Mure / Andre Giordan / Daniel Raichvarg from Editions Boiron

How Was Hahnemann Taught?

In 1777, Hahnemann arrived in Vienna to attend the Modern School of Vienna, a new approach to teaching medicine

The university rector was Joseph von Quarin: he believed in the teaching of medicine “at the patient's bedside”, also teaching was Anton von Stoerck who insisted on studying medicines.

Other schools taught theoretical content in an empirical model with no relation to clinical work.

There was a movement within medical training to move away from empiricism, and rationalise therapeutics... to determine the properties of medicaments and to individualize to the client.

How Was Hahnemann Taught?

In 1777, Hahnemann arrived in Vienna to attend the Modern School of Vienna, a new approach to teaching medicine

The university rector was Joseph von Quarin: he believed in the teaching of medicine “at the patient's bedside”, also teaching was Anton von Stoerck who insisted on studying medicines.

Other schools taught theoretical content in an empirical model with no relation to clinical work.

There was a movement within medical training to move away from empiricism, and rationalise therapeutics... to determine the properties of medicaments and to individualize to the client.

Impact of The Organon :Homeopathy Grew Speedily!

• Hahnemann documented his work in “The Organon of the Medical Art”, first published in 1810 (later 5 further editions)

• Began to practice medicine using this approach. Through his work, writing and teaching in Leipzig, other physicians

• Within 20 years, homeopathy had spread to the rest of Europe and then was brought to the United States by 1830.


• Hahnemann documented his work in “The Organon of the Medical Art”, first published in 1810 (later 5 further editions)

• Began to practice medicine using this approach. Through his work, writing and teaching in Leipzig, other physicians

• Within 20 years, homeopathy had spread to the rest of Europe and then was brought to the United States by 1830.


• 1833 - First US homeopathic medical school in Allentown, Pennsylvania

• 1844 - First medical association in the United States was formed, called the American Institute of Homeopathy (AIH). Three years later, another medical association was created, the American Medical Association (AMA), partly from the perceived threat they felt from this new form of medicine that was influencing physicians.

• CONTRAST – Traditional Chinese Medicine with accumulation of knowledge over hundreds of years


• 1833 - First US homeopathic medical school in Allentown, Pennsylvania

• 1844 - First medical association in the United States was formed, called the American Institute of Homeopathy (AIH). Three years later, another medical association was created, the American Medical Association (AMA), partly from the perceived threat they felt from this new form of medicine that was influencing physicians.

• CONTRAST – Traditional Chinese Medicine with accumulation of knowledge over hundreds of years

Did you know?

• Homeopathy quickly spread to most other states, with homeopathic medical boards and medical schools

• Hahnemann Medical School in Philadelphia still carries the name

• in Washington DC, a statue to Hahnemann is in a prominent square near the White House, the only statue to a physician and also to a non-citizen in the capital

Did you know?

• Homeopathy quickly spread to most other states, with homeopathic medical boards and medical schools

• Hahnemann Medical School in Philadelphia still carries the name

• in Washington DC, a statue to Hahnemann is in a prominent square near the White House, the only statue to a physician and also to a non-citizen in the capital

Studying what Sam Wrote

• It is NOT Philosophy – it is methodology (just sayin')

• What about actually READING THE BOOK???

• Using techniques for evaluating historical documents

– Organon is a 'primary source', something that was created during a particular time period/location that gives a first hand account

• Establishing categories / frame of reference

• Creating notes and cross-references

Studying what Sam Wrote

• It is NOT Philosophy – it is methodology (just sayin')

• What about actually READING THE BOOK???

• Using techniques for evaluating historical documents

– Organon is a 'primary source', something that was created during a particular time period/location that gives a first hand account

• Establishing categories / frame of reference

• Creating notes and cross-references

And About ThatVOCABULARY!!

• Unfamiliar terms: era, medicine, German ideation

• Developing a familiarity with the unfamiliar

• Referencing the glossary– Read, reread, repetition = familiarity

– Practice with creating a sentence to use the word

• You are going to ROCK at Scrabble games...

And About ThatVOCABULARY!!

• Unfamiliar terms: era, medicine, German ideation

• Developing a familiarity with the unfamiliar

• Referencing the glossary– Read, reread, repetition = familiarity

– Practice with creating a sentence to use the word

• You are going to ROCK at Scrabble games...

Reading Historical Documents

• 4 Step process for primary documents• Read at many levels, simultaneously paying attention to argument,

purpose, context, content and credibility• Historical texts should not be read as if they were textbooks• Method to use:– Step 1: Read for Origin and Context– Step 2: Read for Meaning– Step 3: Read for Argument– Step 4: Read like a Historian

Reading Historical Documents

• 4 Step process for primary documents• Read at many levels, simultaneously paying attention to argument,

purpose, context, content and credibility• Historical texts should not be read as if they were textbooks• Method to use:– Step 1: Read for Origin and Context– Step 2: Read for Meaning– Step 3: Read for Argument– Step 4: Read like a Historian

Step 1: Origin and Context

• Begin with the title / author / place / date

• Check the ending of the document's foot notes, bibliographic references

• Purpose: Assess the document's origin sense of it's meaning


• Begin with the title / author / place / date

• Check the ending of the document's foot notes, bibliographic references

• Purpose: Assess the document's origin sense of it's meaning


• Ask yourself:– What does this information suggest about the document– How does each part of the sourcing (person, place, date,

references) impact how you read and understand the document– Why does this matter? Why is this person significant?– What is significant about the date / time period?– Does the location suggest anything about the document?– What background info do I already know about any of these?


• Ask yourself:– What does this information suggest about the document– How does each part of the sourcing (person, place, date,

references) impact how you read and understand the document– Why does this matter? Why is this person significant?– What is significant about the date / time period?– Does the location suggest anything about the document?– What background info do I already know about any of these?


• What do we know about medicine in 1810?

• Why was the author prompted to produce this document?

• What factual information is included in this source document?

– Is the factual information still current / correct?

– Can the factual information be verified by other documents?


• What do we know about medicine in 1810?

• Why was the author prompted to produce this document?

• What factual information is included in this source document?

– Is the factual information still current / correct?

– Can the factual information be verified by other documents?


• What opinions are presented in the document?

– Identify opinions and ask why the author would hold such an opinion?

– Ask yourself if you can share that opinion – do you find it compelling in agreement or disagreement?

• What is implied in the document, not specifically stated?


• What opinions are presented in the document?

– Identify opinions and ask why the author would hold such an opinion?

– Ask yourself if you can share that opinion – do you find it compelling in agreement or disagreement?

• What is implied in the document, not specifically stated?

Step 2: Meaning

• Read the sections of this text for meaning (Top down approach)• For each section (aphorisim) UNDERLINE only the main idea• Skip over any difficult vocabulary or complexity• Let's try this: Essay on a New Principle for Ascertaining the Curative

Powers of Drugs (1796)

Step 2: Meaning

• Read the sections of this text for meaning (Top down approach)• For each section (aphorisim) UNDERLINE only the main idea• Skip over any difficult vocabulary or complexity• Let's try this: Essay on a New Principle for Ascertaining the Curative

Powers of Drugs (1796)

Step 3: Argument

• Re-read the same text again• Examine how the argument is presented to the reader– What evidence or examples are given to support or give credibility

to the author's argument?– Underline or note these in the margin– Is the argument logical or believable?– Does this text dispute or contradict other known references?

(Remember about our biases about health, medicine, material sources of infection, etc...)

Step 3: Argument

• Re-read the same text again• Examine how the argument is presented to the reader– What evidence or examples are given to support or give credibility

to the author's argument?– Underline or note these in the margin– Is the argument logical or believable?– Does this text dispute or contradict other known references?

(Remember about our biases about health, medicine, material sources of infection, etc...)

Step 4: Read Like a Historian

• Re-read the passage of text one more time• Combine what has been gathered through each reading• Given the author's viewpoint, what bias or perspective is being

presented with this statement and argument?• How does this text shape our understanding?• How might this text been received at the time?• What other known documents might the author have been responding

to? Who might have disagreed with it?• Are there facts the author leaves out? • Questions that remain unanswered based on this author's content?

Step 4: Read Like a Historian

• Re-read the passage of text one more time• Combine what has been gathered through each reading• Given the author's viewpoint, what bias or perspective is being

presented with this statement and argument?• How does this text shape our understanding?• How might this text been received at the time?• What other known documents might the author have been responding

to? Who might have disagreed with it?• Are there facts the author leaves out? • Questions that remain unanswered based on this author's content?

So Open Your Organon

• Practice with this method with the introduction/preface of Sam's writing in the Organon– Origin and Context– Meaning– Argument– Historical Assessment

• What are your thoughts? Questions?• See you next time! March 5, 11amET/8amPT

So Open Your Organon

• Practice with this method with the introduction/preface of Sam's writing in the Organon– Origin and Context– Meaning– Argument– Historical Assessment

• What are your thoughts? Questions?• See you next time! March 5, 11amET/8amPT