Methods of Assessment

Abstract

1. The report bases its assessment of both orthodox and alternative therapies on scientific method. However, science is a product of Western thinking, and is based on the assumptions Western society makes about the world and our place in it. Thus while within its world view science is a powerful tool for inquiry, it is by no means ‘free from overriding social values and political bias’. Many philosophers (Bateson, 1972;’ Skolimowski, 19862) and lay people alike view the Western world view and the society which is its product as in serious disarray: while it has brought about enormous material benefits, it is also the root of ecological devastation, human and social alienation, and spiritual impoverishment. Thus it is quite inappropriate to base an assessment of alternatives solely on scientific method, and we need to reach out to find ways to assess critically therapies which arise from other world views in their own terms. Modern philosophy of science suggests that it is not helpful to think in terms of absolute truths or laws of nature, but rather of truths within a world view, or paradigm (Kuhn, 19623). Orthodox medicine claims to rest firmly within the materialist scientific paradigm. But the alternatives to the scientific paradigm cannot be reduced to ‘superstition, magic, and the supernatural’: traditional acupuncture, for example, is rooted in a sophisticated and coherent world view quite different from orthodox medicine. It would be much more helpful if orthodox medicine would carefully and critically articulate its own world view, and challenge and encourage alternative therapies to articulate theirs. From such a dialogue we would learn a lot. 2. The report is naive in its view that science is a fully rational process. Students of the history of scientific discovery (Kuhn, 1976;3 Feyerabend, 19754) as well as those who have carefully looked at current practice (HarrC, 1981;’ Mitroff, 19746), have pointed out that science proceeds through passion and bias, as well as through the application of systematic observation and experiment. This is particularly true at times of paradigm shift, when the scientific world view changes dramatically (for example as at the time of Pasteur’s discoveries). Such a change in world view can only be a non-rational process, based on human sensitivities other than our rational judgement. The idea that