The Conatus Doctrine: A Rational Interpretation of Innate Intelligence

The objective of this article is to reinterpret metaphysical concepts found in chiropractic historic teachings by comparing these to the philosophical system of Baruch Spinoza.

Universal intelligence and innate intelligence are components of the historic and traditional philosophy of chiropractic. These concepts have offered a unique clinical perspective at the cost of committing to an a priori assumption that some see as untenable. The meaning of universal and innate intelligence may be reinterpreted through an understanding of life and health as offered by the conatus doctrine of Baruch Spinoza. The conatus doctrine defines within a formal system the striving and endurance of living beings to remain in unique forms. The reinterpretation offered in this article provides a rationally defensible concept closely tied to contemporary definitions of vitalism, which see life as potentiality striving against inertia and entropy. In its striving, life manifests itself by originating meaning out of information.

Though the product of early-modern rationalism, Spinoza's conatus doctrine offers a contemporary interpretation of an aspect of living beings congruent with established notions within the philosophy of chiropractic. Concepts in Spinoza's work that concern substance and monism offer clarifying perspectives on concepts in the philosophy of chiropractic that may help resolve conflicts concerning spiritualism and naturalism.