Abstract:Literature investigating people’s concepts of supernatural agency (such as ghosts and deities) points to an intuitive theory of mind underlying such ideas, however, recent studies suggest that intuitive ideas over vital energy could also be involved. The present paper focuses on examining the culture and development of people’s conceptions on vital energy. A search was made using the keyword vital energy targeting literature from Anthropology, Psychology and Cognitive Science. A literature review over this top… Show more
“…The vital force or forces representing entelechy are culturally specific and have culturally specific names. In the Western tradition founded by Hippocrates, these vital forces were associated with the four temperaments and humours; in Eastern traditions qi or prana represent the vital forces; in Afro-Brazilian religions it is called axé [17]. Thus entelechy with roots traceable to Aristotle may be located through the vis essentialis of Wolff [18], to the entelechy of Hans Driesch [13] and the emergent élan vital of Henri Bergson [19] in the early twentieth century.…”
Section: History Of Vitalism Vitalism Definedmentioning
Background: Chiropractic emerged in 1895 and was promoted as a viable health care substitute in direct competition with the medical profession. This was an era when there was a belief that one cause and one cure for all disease would be discovered. The chiropractic version was a theory that most diseases were caused by subluxated (slightly displaced) vertebrae interfering with "nerve vibrations" (a supernatural, vital force) and could be cured by adjusting (repositioning) vertebrae, thereby removing the interference with the body's inherent capacity to heal. DD Palmer, the originator of chiropractic, established chiropractic based on vitalistic principles. Anecdotally, the authors have observed that many chiropractors who overtly claim to be "vitalists" cannot define the term. Therefore, we sought the origins of vitalism and to examine its effects on chiropractic today. Discussion: Vitalism arose out of human curiosity around the biggest questions: Where do we come from? What is life? For some, life was derived from an unknown and unknowable vital force. For others, a vital force was a placeholder, a piece of knowledge not yet grasped but attainable. Developments in science have demonstrated there is no longer a need to invoke vitalistic entities as either explanations or hypotheses for biological phenomena. Nevertheless, vitalism remains within chiropractic. In this examination of vitalism within chiropractic we explore the history of vitalism, vitalism within chiropractic and whether a vitalistic ideology is compatible with the legal and ethical requirements for registered health care professionals such as chiropractors. Conclusion: Vitalism has had many meanings throughout the centuries of recorded history. Though only vaguely defined by chiropractors, vitalism, as a representation of supernatural force and therefore an untestable hypothesis, sits at the heart of the divisions within chiropractic and acts as an impediment to chiropractic legitimacy, cultural authority and integration into mainstream health care.
“…The vital force or forces representing entelechy are culturally specific and have culturally specific names. In the Western tradition founded by Hippocrates, these vital forces were associated with the four temperaments and humours; in Eastern traditions qi or prana represent the vital forces; in Afro-Brazilian religions it is called axé [17]. Thus entelechy with roots traceable to Aristotle may be located through the vis essentialis of Wolff [18], to the entelechy of Hans Driesch [13] and the emergent élan vital of Henri Bergson [19] in the early twentieth century.…”
Section: History Of Vitalism Vitalism Definedmentioning
Background: Chiropractic emerged in 1895 and was promoted as a viable health care substitute in direct competition with the medical profession. This was an era when there was a belief that one cause and one cure for all disease would be discovered. The chiropractic version was a theory that most diseases were caused by subluxated (slightly displaced) vertebrae interfering with "nerve vibrations" (a supernatural, vital force) and could be cured by adjusting (repositioning) vertebrae, thereby removing the interference with the body's inherent capacity to heal. DD Palmer, the originator of chiropractic, established chiropractic based on vitalistic principles. Anecdotally, the authors have observed that many chiropractors who overtly claim to be "vitalists" cannot define the term. Therefore, we sought the origins of vitalism and to examine its effects on chiropractic today. Discussion: Vitalism arose out of human curiosity around the biggest questions: Where do we come from? What is life? For some, life was derived from an unknown and unknowable vital force. For others, a vital force was a placeholder, a piece of knowledge not yet grasped but attainable. Developments in science have demonstrated there is no longer a need to invoke vitalistic entities as either explanations or hypotheses for biological phenomena. Nevertheless, vitalism remains within chiropractic. In this examination of vitalism within chiropractic we explore the history of vitalism, vitalism within chiropractic and whether a vitalistic ideology is compatible with the legal and ethical requirements for registered health care professionals such as chiropractors. Conclusion: Vitalism has had many meanings throughout the centuries of recorded history. Though only vaguely defined by chiropractors, vitalism, as a representation of supernatural force and therefore an untestable hypothesis, sits at the heart of the divisions within chiropractic and acts as an impediment to chiropractic legitimacy, cultural authority and integration into mainstream health care.
“…Despite varying in a schematic representation, however, the different perceptions and understandings have a common purpose. Despite the disparities in adopting these anticipated energies, a common thread within their theories is the advancement of specific techniques that exclusively use vital energy to stimulate one's healing process 65,72,73 .…”
The subtle energy or <em>Prana</em> is essential for keeping our body healthy and alive. This article aims at analyzing the existence of subtle energy and the development of people’s perception of this concept across different cultures. The review is made on understanding the influence of this vital energy on people’s lives, health, spirituality, customs, and traditions. This article has reviewed, how the eastern and western cultures seemed to differ and are also alike in interpreting and utilizing the benefit of vital force. It also has addressed the need for perceiving vital force to get the desired outcome in one’s wellbeing. It can be summarised that the concepts of subtle energy may be innate, widespread, and in general, proved to be a pathway for reaching into the spiritual realm. Despite varying in the schematic illustration of the subtle energy from distinct cultures, however, the different perceptions and understandings have a common rationale on its application. Further theoretical and experimental research is essential for the scientific establishment of this area of implication.
“…Religiosidade e espiritualidade (R/E) são incluídas nesse cenário de uma Psicologia em transformação, o que tem fomentado um movimento crescente de pesquisas sobre os possíveis efeitos positivos que essas dimensões podem promover na saúde dos indivíduos (Benites, Neme & Santos, 2017;Moreira-Almeida, Lotufo Neto & Koenig, 2006;Roazzi, Johnson, Nyhof, Koller & Roazzi, 2015). Esse enfoque sobre a promoção de saúde tem ganhado ênfase em pesquisas da área de Psicologia de modo geral, bem como de outras subáreas, como a Psicologia Cultural da Religião, a Psicologia Social da Religião, a Psicologia Cognitiva da Religião, entre outras.…”
Nos últimos anos, tem-se observado um aumento gradativo de estudos que buscam elucidar e compreender os efeitos da religiosidade e espiritualidade (R/E) sobre a saúde mental. Paralelamente, um movimento crescente de pesquisas sobre o bem-estar tem marcado presença no mundo acadêmico, tendo como referência a perspectiva teórica da Psicologia Positiva, que se dedica a estudar os fatores que colaboram para o funcionamento positivo do ser humano. Entre os diversos fatores considerados incluem-se a relação com a transcendência e a espiritualidade, que podem ou não estar associadas ao comportamento religioso. Tendo em vista a relevância e amplitude do tema, este estudo objetiva apresentar uma discussão teórica acerca de resultados de pesquisas que abordam o impacto da R/E no bem-estar e na saúde mental. O arcabouço conceitual da Psicologia Positiva é mobilizado para compreender os elementos que contribuem para a promoção do bem-estar.
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