Reflecting on 115 years: the chiropractic profession's philosophical path.

Area of Science:

• Chiropractic history and philosophy
• Professional identity development
• Sociology of professions

Background:

• The early chiropractic profession faced significant challenges to its survival and identity.
• Internal conflicts among leaders and colleges, alongside external persecution, marked its formative years.
• Medicolegal strategies were employed to establish chiropractic as a distinct profession.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the role of external persecution and medicolegal arguments in shaping chiropractic identity.
• To question the chiropractic profession's current capacity for philosophical growth beyond its historical narrative.

Main Methods:

• Historical analysis of chiropractic's early development.
• Examination of the rhetoric surrounding professional recognition.
• Philosophical inquiry into professional maturity and identity.

Main Results:

• External persecution and the pursuit of professional distinctiveness were crucial in forging chiropractic identity.
• The strategies used for survival and recognition significantly influenced the profession's early philosophical underpinnings.

Conclusions:

• Chiropractic's historical struggles were instrumental in defining its professional identity.
• The profession must now assess its readiness for continued philosophical evolution while honoring its past.