This paper presented at the 23rd Annual Nutritional Medicine Today Conference in 1994 discusses the conflict in therapeutics between Empirical and Rationalist philosophies in medicine. The author, a non-physician with a background in homeopathy, delves into the historical aspects of this conflict, which dates back to Roman and Greek times but was forgotten after the mid-nineteenth century. Empirical medicine, represented by figures like Samuel Hahnemann, emphasizes individualization of treatment and a vitalistic approach, relying on symptoms as valuable data for diagnosis and treatment. In contrast, Rationalist medicine, associated with figures like Claude Bernard and Paul Ehrlich, takes a mechanistic approach and views patients as members of disease groups, moving away from individualization. The paper suggests that understanding this historical conflict can have relevance for those working in nutritional medicine. Harris Coulter sheds light on this battle. The conflict between rationalism and empiricism is not just in the world of theology.
Empiricism vs. Rationalism
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