The paper accepts many tenets of holistic and vitalistic concepts but places them in a more academic than religious context. As an example, the LACC paper on philosophy recognizes the power of the body to heal itself, given the right set of circumstances. A dogmatist in chiropractic philosophy would recognize the self-healing power of the body as an act of innate intelligence being influenced by a universal intelligence. Whatever mechanism can be used to explain the phenomenon is only a reaffirmation of the presence and power of the innate. The purpose of research is to seek new understanding that will confirm the fundamental belief system.
Research failing to confirm preconceived beliefs is considered flawed research.
The resulting outcome of these two points is what brings discord to the profession. In the first, recognition of a natural phenomenon leads to hypothesis formulation and testing that leads to theory formulation. In the second, recognition of the natural phenomenon is acceptance of the presence and action of a higher power to which an explanation may not be found. But since the phenomenon confirms the belief, no further explanation is needed. All health care has philosophical roots.