INTERCULTURAL INCOMMENSURABILITY INTERCULTURAL INCOMMENSURABILITY AND THE GLOBALIZATION OF CHINESE AND THE GLOBALIZATION OF CHINESE

MEDICINE: MEDICINE: THE CASE OF ACUPUNCTURETHE CASE OF ACUPUNCTURE

Robert N. St. Clair, Walter E. Rodríguez, Robert N. St. Clair, Walter E. Rodríguez, Andrew M. Roberts and Irving G. JoshuaAndrew M. Roberts and Irving G. JoshuaUniversity of LouisvilleUniversity of Louisville

Thomas S. KuhnThomas S. Kuhn

Structure of Scientific RevolutionsStructure of Scientific Revolutions

Paradigm ShiftsParadigm Shifts

Features of Paradigm ShiftsFeatures of Paradigm Shifts

Normal ScienceNormal Science The golden age of The golden age of sciencescience

Old journals reject papers that do not Old journals reject papers that do not confirm normal science views confirm normal science views

Periods of CrisesPeriods of Crises Loss of belief in the old Loss of belief in the old paradigmparadigm

Journals accept a wide range of articles Journals accept a wide range of articles that attempt to repair and revise the that attempt to repair and revise the normal science model normal science model

Revolutionary Revolutionary ScienceScience

Community of scientists Community of scientists shift to the new shift to the new emerging paradigm emerging paradigm

New journals reflect the revolutionary New journals reflect the revolutionary changes in science. Eventually older changes in science. Eventually older journals are taken over by the leaders journals are taken over by the leaders of the new paradigm of the new paradigm

THE COMMENSURABILITY OF THE COMMENSURABILITY OF DIVERGENT PARADIGSMSDIVERGENT PARADIGSMS

• Can the Acupuncture practice qualify Can the Acupuncture practice qualify as a scientific paradigm?as a scientific paradigm?

• The transition from normal science to The transition from normal science to revolution science must share a revolution science must share a common tradition; acupuncture does common tradition; acupuncture does not.not.

• Acupuncture is outside of the western Acupuncture is outside of the western tradition of sciencetradition of science

• Basic challenge: Why does Basic challenge: Why does acupuncture work?acupuncture work?

Acupuncture TheoryAcupuncture Theory

The World of DaoThe World of Dao

Philosophy of Yin Philosophy of Yin YangYang

Practice of Practice of AcupunctureAcupuncture

THE WESTERN MEDICINE THE WESTERN MEDICINE PARADIGMPARADIGM

Germ Theory Germ Theory

Four Kinds of DiseaseFour Kinds of DiseaseInfectious DiseaseInfectious Disease

Nutritional DiseaseNutritional Disease

Molecular GeneticMolecular Genetic

Auto Immune DiseaseAuto Immune Disease

PARADIGMATIC INCOMMENSURABIITYPARADIGMATIC INCOMMENSURABIITY

Western science functions in a context of reductionism, Western science functions in a context of reductionism, linearity, and causality. linearity, and causality.

Individual events are isolated from their larger and more Individual events are isolated from their larger and more holistic complex of interactions and subjected to the holistic complex of interactions and subjected to the scientific method. scientific method.

Hypotheses are posed regarding these isolated events and Hypotheses are posed regarding these isolated events and experiments are designed to either prove or disprove these experiments are designed to either prove or disprove these hypotheses. hypotheses.

From this practice, laws or principles are established and From this practice, laws or principles are established and theories are formulated that verify and predict those very theories are formulated that verify and predict those very principles. It is a quantitative science. principles. It is a quantitative science.

PARADIGMATIC INCOMMENSURABIITYPARADIGMATIC INCOMMENSURABIITY

Chinese science, on the other hand, is a qualitative science. Chinese science, on the other hand, is a qualitative science.

It is holistic in that it is derived from a context of inclusion, It is holistic in that it is derived from a context of inclusion, concurrence, and induction. concurrence, and induction.

Events are seen as initially interconnected; they influence Events are seen as initially interconnected; they influence each other. each other.

These events are studied in context with it These events are studied in context with it interrelationships and counter influences.interrelationships and counter influences.

Upon observing the phenomena, laws are established Upon observing the phenomena, laws are established based on how these events are experienced. based on how these events are experienced.

Are these two systems incommensurate? Are these two systems incommensurate? The challenge is that they both make successful The challenge is that they both make successful

conclusions about the same phenomena. conclusions about the same phenomena.

Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarksby American Scientistsby American Scientists

They cannot understand why the Chinese felt no compunction to They cannot understand why the Chinese felt no compunction to quantify phenomena. quantify phenomena.

They cannot relate to the qualitative measures (Yin, Yang, wuxing, They cannot relate to the qualitative measures (Yin, Yang, wuxing, and bagua) used by the Chinese philosophers.and bagua) used by the Chinese philosophers.

They are not comfortable with the metaphor of the path or the They are not comfortable with the metaphor of the path or the way and prefer to seek causal relationships of a different nature.way and prefer to seek causal relationships of a different nature.

Concluding Remarks by Revolutionary ScientistsConcluding Remarks by Revolutionary Scientists The most promising bridge between these two paradigms can be The most promising bridge between these two paradigms can be

found in the field of bioelectromagnetism (BEM) which is the study found in the field of bioelectromagnetism (BEM) which is the study of the subtle electromagnetic fields that underlie life processes. of the subtle electromagnetic fields that underlie life processes.

BEM is a viable research paradigm in Europe and it is not widely BEM is a viable research paradigm in Europe and it is not widely investigated within the United States (Selden and Becker, 1987) investigated within the United States (Selden and Becker, 1987) where medical treatments are largely based on drug therapies and where medical treatments are largely based on drug therapies and surgical interventions. surgical interventions.

Lakhovsky (1992) investigated the interrelationships between Lakhovsky (1992) investigated the interrelationships between high-frequency electromagnetic fields and living things. In this high-frequency electromagnetic fields and living things. In this book, he asked the question: “What is life?” book, he asked the question: “What is life?”

His response is that life is the harmony of multiple radiations His response is that life is the harmony of multiple radiations which react upon one another. which react upon one another.

Science of Science of Bioelectromagnetism Bioelectromagnetism

Lakhovsky (1992), A Russian scientist, went on to ask: “What is Lakhovsky (1992), A Russian scientist, went on to ask: “What is disease?” His answer was that disease was the oscillatory disease?” His answer was that disease was the oscillatory disequilibrium of cells and that this disequilibrium originated from disequilibrium of cells and that this disequilibrium originated from external causes. external causes.

Lakhovsky explained that living things receive and emit Lakhovsky explained that living things receive and emit electromagnetic radiations. It is the exchange of these energies electromagnetic radiations. It is the exchange of these energies between life forms constitutes electromagnetic communication. between life forms constitutes electromagnetic communication.

Pressman (1970) argued that it is electromagnetic radiation that Pressman (1970) argued that it is electromagnetic radiation that enables living things to sense information about the environment, enables living things to sense information about the environment, facilitate and control within the organism, and communicate facilitate and control within the organism, and communicate between living things. between living things.

Popp and Becker(1988) referred to this energy forms as Popp and Becker(1988) referred to this energy forms as biophotons and explained how they regulated many physiological biophotons and explained how they regulated many physiological functions such as growth, maturation, cell differentiation, functions such as growth, maturation, cell differentiation, enzymatic activity, and immune system functions. enzymatic activity, and immune system functions.

Resonance Model of LifeResonance Model of Life

These electromagnetic fields within the human These electromagnetic fields within the human body is seen as a model of resonance in which body is seen as a model of resonance in which particles move harmoniously through an particles move harmoniously through an electromagnetic field electromagnetic field

This research is reminiscent of quantum physics This research is reminiscent of quantum physics which is based on the principle that all parts of which is based on the principle that all parts of the universe are connected to each other and are the universe are connected to each other and are in communication with all of its parts. in communication with all of its parts.

Final RemarksFinal Remarks

The ancient Chinese description of Qi and its The ancient Chinese description of Qi and its parthways and accumulations in the body closely parthways and accumulations in the body closely correlate with research in BEM. correlate with research in BEM.

The acupuncture system with its meridians is The acupuncture system with its meridians is

largely based on such electromagnetic energies.largely based on such electromagnetic energies.

Final Remarks - 2Final Remarks - 2 The globalization of medicine has taken an interesting turn. The globalization of medicine has taken an interesting turn.

Classical Chinese medicine has made its journey outside of Classical Chinese medicine has made its journey outside of the Middle Kingdom and into the medical practice of the the Middle Kingdom and into the medical practice of the western nations. western nations.

One of the major problems with this One of the major problems with this transition had to do with paradigmatic transition had to do with paradigmatic incommensurability. incommensurability.

Even though the languages involved were different and Even though the languages involved were different and even though the medical practices differed substantially, even though the medical practices differed substantially, the two models were found to be commensurable because the two models were found to be commensurable because of scholars who understood the significance of the Chinese of scholars who understood the significance of the Chinese tradition and its implications for BEM research. tradition and its implications for BEM research.

One is reminded that when paradigms One is reminded that when paradigms overlap, they become partially compatible overlap, they become partially compatible and their findings can be made more and their findings can be made more commensurable with each other. commensurable with each other.

ThereforeTherefore

Such commensurability, however, Such commensurability, however, would not have occurred if such would not have occurred if such peripheral practices were not peripheral practices were not tolerated by the core medical tolerated by the core medical sciences. Even in the sciences, sciences. Even in the sciences, “Tolerance has its virtues.” “Tolerance has its virtues.”