Chiropractic Philosophy Has No Future

The following paper argues that chiropractic philosophy is a misnomer and that what chiropractors have described as chiropractic philosophy is neither unique to chiropractic, nor, for the most part, is it philosophy. However, it suggests that a viable philosophy of chiropractic is not only possible, but desirable. It would help chiropractors to resolve many of the present philosophical differences so that at least their disagreements would be over something real to disagree about and not simply political and rhetoric differences. A philosophy of chiropractic would involve applying the fields and insights of general philosophy to chiropractic issues. It would require that chiropractors become more sophisticated about philosophy to chiropractic issues. It would require that chiropractors become more sophisticated about philosophy and, in particular, about conceptual analysis. A major contribution of a philosophy of chiropractic would be the clarification of chiropractic concepts. It would also allow the metaphysical elements to enter the realm of rational discourse and leave the worlds of dogma and doctrine where they have haunted the profession for so long.