In Search of the Vital Force/Piet
Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 8:02 am
At 11:07 PM 12/3/2005, you wrote:
Hello Piet,
I knew you would find some potential "hole" in my attempt to be as
universal and all embracing as possible! It is very obvious that Kent most
of his ideas about the origin psora from Hempel. This is not surprising as
Rousseau and Swedenborg shared similar interest. They were both part of the
Deist movement of free thinkers so let us keep the free thinking flowing.
This says nothing about psora. I would agree with the idea that medicine
and theology are linked as a human being is made up of both psyche and soma.
This says nothing about psora but susceptibility certainly provides for
predisposition.
The quote says Psora is the "EVOLUTION" of the state of man's distorted
will not the distorted will itself. Kent taught the disease is the RESULT
of distorted will and understanding. The OUTCOME is psora, the ultimate of
his former sin. This is in perfect line with the teachings of Rousseau and
Swedenborg. Human being were developed in purity and harmony. Due to a
spiritual decline in thought and feeling men and women became
SUSCEPTIBILITY to physical illness. First came the moral decline, then the
susceptibility, then came physical illness. Psora may be the outcome but
not the cause of the fall from the state of perfection.
Yes. THE OUTGROWTH is Psora but it does not say that psora is the changes
in the perfected state, will and understanding nor the susceptibility. An
outgrowth has a priori that is its cause.
Yes, this is true but it says nothing about psora. This is about the psyche
and the psychosomatic axis and how moral states negatively affect the
physical organism. How true!
Psora is the ultimation of the causes not the priori. I will say that the
above idea of Kent's is much more like Hempel's writings but nothing like
Hahnemann.
Yes, distortions of thinking, willing and doing are what cause the
SUSCEPTIBILITY that FINALLY PROCEED to the chronic miasms. It does not say
that the distortions in thinking, willing and doing are identical nor that
the chronic miasms proceed the changes in will and understanding.
Yes, miasms are collective diseases of common cause and similar symptoms
that affect the whole human race. They have been based down through family
lineage since prehistorical times. They are part of the universal
condition. That does not mean the miasms exist before the susceptibility to
the miasms existed! First came the moral decline which opened up humanity
to disease and this "outcome " was psora.
That is simply your opinion. Kent's quotes say "evolution" "finally
proceed" "the outgrowth" "the ultimate" "the result" in reference to psora.
Not one of these quotes says that psora is identical to the susceptibly to
psora nor that psora IS the negative change in willing and understanding
that led to the fall of humanity. Psora is the evolution, outgrowth,
ultimate which "finally proceeded" from a prior state. That state
originated in the psyche and then proceed to produce susceptibility to the
chronic miasms. That is how I read the statements when I put them all
together.
The RESULT is not identical with the CAUSE. Cause is first then comes
result as in cause and effect. For example, a persons suffers a great
disappointed (Cause). This then lowers the person resistance and vitality
(increased susceptibility). Then the person contracts a illness like the
acute or chronic miasms (result). We see such things all the time. Cause,
and effect are not identical although they are intimately related!
One has to have psora itself before one can transmit it as a contagious
disease but the whole process has to start somewhere. I would certainly say
the susceptibility to psora and the transmission of psoric infections are
linked but I personally would not call them identical in every and all cases.
Just from the clinical point of view, I would say that I see psora in
some of its most primitive and virulent forms in Asia. It is like looking
back in time. Most Westerners have never been exposed to psora in all of
the states that Hahnemann discussed in the Chronic Diseases. I see leprosy
and almost every type of skin disease know. I did not see this is the USA
or England. What seems to increase the susceptibility to contracting
clinical psora is hereditary predispositions, bad diet, poor hygiene, over
crowding, and mental and physical stress.
I would agree that inherited miasms produce a state that predisposes to
easy infection and troublesome sequels. This is what Hempel was speaking
about and is the source of Kent's ideas. The inherited predispositions that
set a state from new conception. Nevertheless, the whole process had to
start somewhere. That is what we are talking, 'the beginning". I simple to
not call the mental priori "psora" nor do I think Kent was. In truth the
answers to these questions are lost in the unknown prehistory so this is
more of an intellectual exercise than a practical scientific study. No one
can answer these questions!
Some of Kent's statements are very similar to what Hempel wrote while
others are much more exacting and deal with genesis of disease and the
pathological progression in more detail than Hempel. The quote I used is
very clear in this regard and is the source of my comments.
Let's look at the quote I was referring to.
1. "It is altogether too extensive, for it goes to the very primitive
wrong of the human race, the very first sickness of the human race, that is
the spiritual sickness, from which first state the race progressed into
what may be called the TRUE SUSCEPTIBILITY TO PSORA which in turn laid the
foundation for other diseases. (Lectures on Homœopathic Philosophy; J. T.
Kent, Chronic Diseases Psora, page 146
The progression is shown with these words "the spiritual sickness, from
which first state the race progressed into what may be called the TRUE
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO PSORA" These very detailed quote show three stages. These
are the "spiritual sickness" to which the race "progressed" to the "true
susceptibility to psora". It does not say psora came first, second and
third and that all these stages are psora.
In this quote there is a sequence.
1. Negative changes in will and understanding.
2. Susceptibility
3. Psora and the chronic miasms.
I wouldn't reject Hempel as he started the entire discussion! Have you
read the complete text of what he wrote? If not, you should because his
ideas a very, very similar to yours as well as James Kent's. As far as I
can see, Kent equated psora with the "outcome" of a process that started
with changes in will and understanding. There is nowhere in these quotes
where he says that psora is identical with the distortion of will and
understanding that lead to disease. In fact, when he speaks of psora he
uses the words evolution, outcome, progressed, ultimate,finally proceeding,
result NOT priori, originating, starting, identical with and same as.
It is very obvious that Kent got ideas from Hempel. He is the source of
these ideas and those that think them. I have a different much more
clinical view of the miasms but I find room for these types of ideas in my
overall view of the human condition, disease and healing. I personally
prefer to follow Hahnemann more closely than either Hempel or Kent when it
comes to the pathogeneses of disease. In the first sentence of the
Introduction of the Organon Hahnemann wrote:
"As long as humanity has existed, people have been exposed,
individually and collectively, to illnesses of physical and moral causes."
I think this statement transcends the very discussion were are having
about the psora being or not being the origin. It clearly states "as long
as humanity has existed". It does not speak about some perfectly pure
priori Eden-like state or a fall. Since the *beginning* people have been
"exposed" both "individually and collectively" to diseases of "physical and
moral causes". This is just the why it IS.
Hahnemann then explains how diseases of civilization are increasing
day by day making the situation more and complex. Some disease are physical
and some diseases are mental some are a combination of both. Since the
beginning human beings have been tripping over something and falling down
or suffering exposer to unseasonable cold, etc! They also have been exposed
to wrong thinking, willing and actings that produces mental pain. Infection
by microorganisms has always been around as the microorganisms came first
and then human beings.
People have suffered individually with unique disorders and as a group
with collective disorders that are diseases of common causes and similar
symptoms like the infectious miasms, endemic nutritional diseases,
environmentally induced disorders, exposure to poisons and toxins, etc.
This statement sets the foundation the development of two case taking
methods, the individual and group anamnesis. It is we that must learn when
to use one or the other or a combination of both. It also shows how
importance factors like moral decline, poor lifestyle and habits as well as
over population and environmental degradation that increases the number and
virulency of disease causes agents.
Eden is an archetype image of the perfection of the Self and a vision of
a higher existence. The Golden Age is mythologem that is part of the human
mind. These ideas exist because we need them. Did these states ever exist
physically or will they ever exist on the physical plane? More questions
that will always be questions to us mortals! It is best to say in the
question than imagine we have the right answers.
Sincerely, David Little
In truth, we both wish to understand the art of healing. This is much
more important than trying to answer questions like "which came first the
chicken or the egg". That is exactly what our discussion is about! You say
chicken and I say egg - I say egg and you say chicken! To take this type of
discussion too seriously would be to invite madness! In reality, no one
knows the answers to these questions about origins.
Sincerely, David Little
---------------
"It is the life-force which cures diseases because a dead man needs no more
medicines."
Samuel Hahnemann
Visit our website on Hahnemannian Homoeopathy and Cyberspace Homoeopathic
Academy at
http://www.simillimum.com
David Little © 2000
Hello Piet,
I knew you would find some potential "hole" in my attempt to be as
universal and all embracing as possible! It is very obvious that Kent most
of his ideas about the origin psora from Hempel. This is not surprising as
Rousseau and Swedenborg shared similar interest. They were both part of the
Deist movement of free thinkers so let us keep the free thinking flowing.
This says nothing about psora. I would agree with the idea that medicine
and theology are linked as a human being is made up of both psyche and soma.
This says nothing about psora but susceptibility certainly provides for
predisposition.
The quote says Psora is the "EVOLUTION" of the state of man's distorted
will not the distorted will itself. Kent taught the disease is the RESULT
of distorted will and understanding. The OUTCOME is psora, the ultimate of
his former sin. This is in perfect line with the teachings of Rousseau and
Swedenborg. Human being were developed in purity and harmony. Due to a
spiritual decline in thought and feeling men and women became
SUSCEPTIBILITY to physical illness. First came the moral decline, then the
susceptibility, then came physical illness. Psora may be the outcome but
not the cause of the fall from the state of perfection.
Yes. THE OUTGROWTH is Psora but it does not say that psora is the changes
in the perfected state, will and understanding nor the susceptibility. An
outgrowth has a priori that is its cause.
Yes, this is true but it says nothing about psora. This is about the psyche
and the psychosomatic axis and how moral states negatively affect the
physical organism. How true!
Psora is the ultimation of the causes not the priori. I will say that the
above idea of Kent's is much more like Hempel's writings but nothing like
Hahnemann.
Yes, distortions of thinking, willing and doing are what cause the
SUSCEPTIBILITY that FINALLY PROCEED to the chronic miasms. It does not say
that the distortions in thinking, willing and doing are identical nor that
the chronic miasms proceed the changes in will and understanding.
Yes, miasms are collective diseases of common cause and similar symptoms
that affect the whole human race. They have been based down through family
lineage since prehistorical times. They are part of the universal
condition. That does not mean the miasms exist before the susceptibility to
the miasms existed! First came the moral decline which opened up humanity
to disease and this "outcome " was psora.
That is simply your opinion. Kent's quotes say "evolution" "finally
proceed" "the outgrowth" "the ultimate" "the result" in reference to psora.
Not one of these quotes says that psora is identical to the susceptibly to
psora nor that psora IS the negative change in willing and understanding
that led to the fall of humanity. Psora is the evolution, outgrowth,
ultimate which "finally proceeded" from a prior state. That state
originated in the psyche and then proceed to produce susceptibility to the
chronic miasms. That is how I read the statements when I put them all
together.
The RESULT is not identical with the CAUSE. Cause is first then comes
result as in cause and effect. For example, a persons suffers a great
disappointed (Cause). This then lowers the person resistance and vitality
(increased susceptibility). Then the person contracts a illness like the
acute or chronic miasms (result). We see such things all the time. Cause,
and effect are not identical although they are intimately related!
One has to have psora itself before one can transmit it as a contagious
disease but the whole process has to start somewhere. I would certainly say
the susceptibility to psora and the transmission of psoric infections are
linked but I personally would not call them identical in every and all cases.
Just from the clinical point of view, I would say that I see psora in
some of its most primitive and virulent forms in Asia. It is like looking
back in time. Most Westerners have never been exposed to psora in all of
the states that Hahnemann discussed in the Chronic Diseases. I see leprosy
and almost every type of skin disease know. I did not see this is the USA
or England. What seems to increase the susceptibility to contracting
clinical psora is hereditary predispositions, bad diet, poor hygiene, over
crowding, and mental and physical stress.
I would agree that inherited miasms produce a state that predisposes to
easy infection and troublesome sequels. This is what Hempel was speaking
about and is the source of Kent's ideas. The inherited predispositions that
set a state from new conception. Nevertheless, the whole process had to
start somewhere. That is what we are talking, 'the beginning". I simple to
not call the mental priori "psora" nor do I think Kent was. In truth the
answers to these questions are lost in the unknown prehistory so this is
more of an intellectual exercise than a practical scientific study. No one
can answer these questions!
Some of Kent's statements are very similar to what Hempel wrote while
others are much more exacting and deal with genesis of disease and the
pathological progression in more detail than Hempel. The quote I used is
very clear in this regard and is the source of my comments.
Let's look at the quote I was referring to.
1. "It is altogether too extensive, for it goes to the very primitive
wrong of the human race, the very first sickness of the human race, that is
the spiritual sickness, from which first state the race progressed into
what may be called the TRUE SUSCEPTIBILITY TO PSORA which in turn laid the
foundation for other diseases. (Lectures on Homœopathic Philosophy; J. T.
Kent, Chronic Diseases Psora, page 146
The progression is shown with these words "the spiritual sickness, from
which first state the race progressed into what may be called the TRUE
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO PSORA" These very detailed quote show three stages. These
are the "spiritual sickness" to which the race "progressed" to the "true
susceptibility to psora". It does not say psora came first, second and
third and that all these stages are psora.
In this quote there is a sequence.
1. Negative changes in will and understanding.
2. Susceptibility
3. Psora and the chronic miasms.
I wouldn't reject Hempel as he started the entire discussion! Have you
read the complete text of what he wrote? If not, you should because his
ideas a very, very similar to yours as well as James Kent's. As far as I
can see, Kent equated psora with the "outcome" of a process that started
with changes in will and understanding. There is nowhere in these quotes
where he says that psora is identical with the distortion of will and
understanding that lead to disease. In fact, when he speaks of psora he
uses the words evolution, outcome, progressed, ultimate,finally proceeding,
result NOT priori, originating, starting, identical with and same as.
It is very obvious that Kent got ideas from Hempel. He is the source of
these ideas and those that think them. I have a different much more
clinical view of the miasms but I find room for these types of ideas in my
overall view of the human condition, disease and healing. I personally
prefer to follow Hahnemann more closely than either Hempel or Kent when it
comes to the pathogeneses of disease. In the first sentence of the
Introduction of the Organon Hahnemann wrote:
"As long as humanity has existed, people have been exposed,
individually and collectively, to illnesses of physical and moral causes."
I think this statement transcends the very discussion were are having
about the psora being or not being the origin. It clearly states "as long
as humanity has existed". It does not speak about some perfectly pure
priori Eden-like state or a fall. Since the *beginning* people have been
"exposed" both "individually and collectively" to diseases of "physical and
moral causes". This is just the why it IS.
Hahnemann then explains how diseases of civilization are increasing
day by day making the situation more and complex. Some disease are physical
and some diseases are mental some are a combination of both. Since the
beginning human beings have been tripping over something and falling down
or suffering exposer to unseasonable cold, etc! They also have been exposed
to wrong thinking, willing and actings that produces mental pain. Infection
by microorganisms has always been around as the microorganisms came first
and then human beings.
People have suffered individually with unique disorders and as a group
with collective disorders that are diseases of common causes and similar
symptoms like the infectious miasms, endemic nutritional diseases,
environmentally induced disorders, exposure to poisons and toxins, etc.
This statement sets the foundation the development of two case taking
methods, the individual and group anamnesis. It is we that must learn when
to use one or the other or a combination of both. It also shows how
importance factors like moral decline, poor lifestyle and habits as well as
over population and environmental degradation that increases the number and
virulency of disease causes agents.
Eden is an archetype image of the perfection of the Self and a vision of
a higher existence. The Golden Age is mythologem that is part of the human
mind. These ideas exist because we need them. Did these states ever exist
physically or will they ever exist on the physical plane? More questions
that will always be questions to us mortals! It is best to say in the
question than imagine we have the right answers.
Sincerely, David Little
In truth, we both wish to understand the art of healing. This is much
more important than trying to answer questions like "which came first the
chicken or the egg". That is exactly what our discussion is about! You say
chicken and I say egg - I say egg and you say chicken! To take this type of
discussion too seriously would be to invite madness! In reality, no one
knows the answers to these questions about origins.
Sincerely, David Little
---------------
"It is the life-force which cures diseases because a dead man needs no more
medicines."
Samuel Hahnemann
Visit our website on Hahnemannian Homoeopathy and Cyberspace Homoeopathic
Academy at
http://www.simillimum.com
David Little © 2000