How can the concepts of holism and reductionism inform our understanding of the discipline of osteopathy?
Item
- Title
- How can the concepts of holism and reductionism inform our understanding of the discipline of osteopathy?
- Author(s)
- McCay, K
- Abstract
- This dissertation aims to analyse osteopathy through the lenses of holism andreductionism, making clear a tension within the profession that every osteopath and osteopathic student faces. The concepts of holism and reductionism will be researched and applied to osteopathy historically, in terms of its principles, models and concepts and by investigating the current pressure for an evidence base for the profession. The method used for this Literature Review included searching academic databases using the key words of holism, reductionism and evidence based medicine. The library was accessed for original texts written by influential osteopaths as well as textbooks on the subject. Specific osteopathic journals were researched using the same key words as above, with additional information found in books sourced outside of the university. The concept of eductionism is not compatible with the holistic philosophy of osteopathy in so far as it is unable to take into account _unknowable' factors of human experience considered in the diagnosis and treatment of patients from an osteopathic' point of view. Empirical evidence and subjective findings are not satisfactory in reductionist terms, however suggestions have been made that qualitative, rather than quantitative research is more appropriate to analyse the profession, as well as the application of new advances in quantum theory.,I To disregard the holistic philosophy of osteopathy in order to first prove its methods and techniques in a positivist sense would mean that osteopathy, as it was first conceived, would no longer exist.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2011
- Date Submitted
- 22.1.2013 16:23:35
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 15284
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- Holism; Reductionism; Osteopathy.
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
McCay, K, “How can the concepts of holism and reductionism inform our understanding of the discipline of osteopathy?”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 2, 2024, https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/781