The discovery of the interstitium overlaps with the meridian theory of Chinese medicine with an amazing overlap. And, just like interstitium break down as soon as one apply traditional anatomical method, meridian and qi can not be approached by standard, reductionist-based scientific method.
It really all comes down to what are the available means of observation. Because (I suspect) meridians and qi are phenomena of what we currently crudely point to as "consciousness," it will require us to employ more disciplined first-person, subjective methods of observation to bring this realm into a broader activity of what might be called a "living science." Psychotopology is a step in this direction.
Exactly. When the reductionist approach tries to "isolate" qi into tangible, isolated "stuff", qi and meridian breaks down. First-person experience needs to be included in order to study this phenomenon without breaking its integrity.
@Veronika Bond restacked this post with a provocative question: "If the landscape is different from the way you believed and were taught, would you rather learn about a new map, or insist on the old one which no longer serves us because it doesn’t represent the landscape?"
Reading this posting reminded me of a couple of things.
1).I read once that if the heart was the only thing that pumped blood and stuff around the body (I'm an engineer) through many metres of tiny capilliaries as well as arteries and veins, then the heart would need to be a pump of several horsepower, half the size of your average human - which clearly it isn't. To me the heart is a regulator, and the pumping ability comes via other mechanisms in the body - which is now being discovered and articulated as the interstitium (if I've understood this posting correctly)
2).It has been enjoyable to read an account of True Science in action, with an openness to the new. Unlike the institutional close-mindedness corrupted-by-money $cience that currently seems to dominate. If only all scientists were True Scientists. The "we follow the science" touted in covid times by politicians merely revealed how misunderstood (or corrupted) has become the vocation of being a scientist. One day, medical science will actually find homeopathy to be a truly science-based understanding for healing, instead of quite violently dismissing it as 'anecdotal' or 'quack medicine'. I hope I live long enough to witness it. The discovery of the interstitium means that maybe new and more honest times are coming.
Interesting, Joshua! When you put the heart/blood system like that in the context of fluid dynamics and the microscopic size and endless scope (60,000 miles!!) of capillaries, it makes sense that it would take something much more robust than this little heart to “pump” it through. I’m not sure what role the interstitium plays in that — from what I’ve read, it seems to be a parallel system that doesn’t directly intersect with the space through which blood flows, getting no closer than maybe into and through vein and artery walls. But hey, I’m sure there is a whole lot more to discover about this ol’ human body of ours.
As for the limitations of institutional science, I like to hold a space of understanding for the people doing the work. Although many people may have started out from an ideal of wanting to do True Science as they understood it in their youth, by the time they get into their post-doc and beyond, they’ve lost that glow and other priorities come to the foreground — family, social cred, paying off student loans, on and on. The larger forces become the dominant shapers of the institutions they inhabit, and thus the lives they are able to live. I’m not sure it’s possible for any real person to maintain a commitment to True Science in the midst of all that. There’s no way I would want to try.
So here I am, floating on the outside of all the societal structures. There’s no way I could have discovered what I have without that freedom. And here I am, almost literally without a place to stand, wondering if it will all be for naught.
I do believe that what I have discovered has the possibility of inspiring a rethinking of society at all levels and dimensions — among other things, it exposes serious flaws in the understanding of human nature upon which we base our societal structures. But that actually happening depends on forces far outside my reckoning, and I anticipate such a shift may take centuries. Hope I’m wrong.
Shifts of a certain magnitude take centuries to become pervasive, yes... I wonder how long it takes for psychotopology as redefined by Joe Shirley to become known-enough to the right people with the staying power to stay the course and validate in ways that convince increasing numbers of geeks on the fringes that it is, indeed True Science... to prove to you that it's destined to penetrate everywhere eventually.
I found a list you belong on, and merely wonder what year:
Thank you Briana! Of course, someday there will be The Institute for Psychotopology! And yes, it would let me breathe much easier to see the work find its way into the stream of existing science and be recognized for its contributions. I'm not holding my breath. Just working hard on the next article for you and others here on Substack and eventually beyond. (Along those lines, thanks for your suggestion the other day in our Engage meeting. I'm almost finished an upcoming post which clearly defines what psychotopology means by "consciousness.")
The discovery of the interstitium overlaps with the meridian theory of Chinese medicine with an amazing overlap. And, just like interstitium break down as soon as one apply traditional anatomical method, meridian and qi can not be approached by standard, reductionist-based scientific method.
It really all comes down to what are the available means of observation. Because (I suspect) meridians and qi are phenomena of what we currently crudely point to as "consciousness," it will require us to employ more disciplined first-person, subjective methods of observation to bring this realm into a broader activity of what might be called a "living science." Psychotopology is a step in this direction.
Exactly. When the reductionist approach tries to "isolate" qi into tangible, isolated "stuff", qi and meridian breaks down. First-person experience needs to be included in order to study this phenomenon without breaking its integrity.
@Veronika Bond restacked this post with a provocative question: "If the landscape is different from the way you believed and were taught, would you rather learn about a new map, or insist on the old one which no longer serves us because it doesn’t represent the landscape?"
I replied with some reflections on what "serves" us, depending on the person and the context. Check it out and chime in with your thoughts: https://substack.com/@veronikabond/note/c-69967014
Reading this posting reminded me of a couple of things.
1).I read once that if the heart was the only thing that pumped blood and stuff around the body (I'm an engineer) through many metres of tiny capilliaries as well as arteries and veins, then the heart would need to be a pump of several horsepower, half the size of your average human - which clearly it isn't. To me the heart is a regulator, and the pumping ability comes via other mechanisms in the body - which is now being discovered and articulated as the interstitium (if I've understood this posting correctly)
2).It has been enjoyable to read an account of True Science in action, with an openness to the new. Unlike the institutional close-mindedness corrupted-by-money $cience that currently seems to dominate. If only all scientists were True Scientists. The "we follow the science" touted in covid times by politicians merely revealed how misunderstood (or corrupted) has become the vocation of being a scientist. One day, medical science will actually find homeopathy to be a truly science-based understanding for healing, instead of quite violently dismissing it as 'anecdotal' or 'quack medicine'. I hope I live long enough to witness it. The discovery of the interstitium means that maybe new and more honest times are coming.
Interesting, Joshua! When you put the heart/blood system like that in the context of fluid dynamics and the microscopic size and endless scope (60,000 miles!!) of capillaries, it makes sense that it would take something much more robust than this little heart to “pump” it through. I’m not sure what role the interstitium plays in that — from what I’ve read, it seems to be a parallel system that doesn’t directly intersect with the space through which blood flows, getting no closer than maybe into and through vein and artery walls. But hey, I’m sure there is a whole lot more to discover about this ol’ human body of ours.
As for the limitations of institutional science, I like to hold a space of understanding for the people doing the work. Although many people may have started out from an ideal of wanting to do True Science as they understood it in their youth, by the time they get into their post-doc and beyond, they’ve lost that glow and other priorities come to the foreground — family, social cred, paying off student loans, on and on. The larger forces become the dominant shapers of the institutions they inhabit, and thus the lives they are able to live. I’m not sure it’s possible for any real person to maintain a commitment to True Science in the midst of all that. There’s no way I would want to try.
So here I am, floating on the outside of all the societal structures. There’s no way I could have discovered what I have without that freedom. And here I am, almost literally without a place to stand, wondering if it will all be for naught.
I do believe that what I have discovered has the possibility of inspiring a rethinking of society at all levels and dimensions — among other things, it exposes serious flaws in the understanding of human nature upon which we base our societal structures. But that actually happening depends on forces far outside my reckoning, and I anticipate such a shift may take centuries. Hope I’m wrong.
Shifts of a certain magnitude take centuries to become pervasive, yes... I wonder how long it takes for psychotopology as redefined by Joe Shirley to become known-enough to the right people with the staying power to stay the course and validate in ways that convince increasing numbers of geeks on the fringes that it is, indeed True Science... to prove to you that it's destined to penetrate everywhere eventually.
I found a list you belong on, and merely wonder what year:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumelhart_Prize#See_also
What institution would you put down you're associated with, Joe: your closest colleagues are here on Substack, right? <3 <3 <3
Thank you Briana! Of course, someday there will be The Institute for Psychotopology! And yes, it would let me breathe much easier to see the work find its way into the stream of existing science and be recognized for its contributions. I'm not holding my breath. Just working hard on the next article for you and others here on Substack and eventually beyond. (Along those lines, thanks for your suggestion the other day in our Engage meeting. I'm almost finished an upcoming post which clearly defines what psychotopology means by "consciousness.")