Beliefs of students and graduates about the allopathic molecular paradigm

Homeopathy and allopathy diverge not only in terms of their medical systems, but also in terms of their different philosophical and cultural traditions. Homeopathy embraces the tradition of vitalism, holism and ecology (ecological paradigm). Allopathy developed in the wake of a mechanistic and reductionistic approach (molecular paradigm). We have investigated to what extent students and graduates have absorbed the general assumption of the molecular paradigm.

Methods: 135 students and graduates in medicine and veterinary science answered a questionnaire of 18 items, also containing statements from well-known scientists, concerning:

• the ability of allopathy to give a complete explanation of living matter,

• the need for allopathy to integrate other perspectives,

• the approach to patients and disease.

Results: 70.4% of interviewees (84.9% of students; 54.9% of graduates) agreed, completely or partially, that „the characteristics of living matter are completely explained by the knowledge of molecules and molecular interaction“. This percentage fell to 49.6% (59.6%-39,2%) for agreement with the following statement: „brain knowledge clarifies the properties of emotions and ethical judgement“. Still fewer of those interviewed, 19,2% (20,8%-17,6%) agreed that „artificial intelligence progress will yield computers like human brains“.

51,9% (35,8%-68,6%) thought that, to obtain a complete explanation of living matter, a change in perspective is needed, and 78,8% (69,8%-88,2%) felt that further integration with other doctrines (complementary medicines, human science) is needed. Furthermore, 81,4% agreed with the statement: „life has its own characteristics not reducible to chemical laws“.

Disease symptoms must be eliminated rapidly and safely for 75,0% (77,4%-72,5%); nevertheless, 85,2% (84,9%-86,3%) thought that disease symptoms signify a body language to interpret and comply with.

Finally 84,5% (94,2%-74,5%) believed scientific research is experiencing a period of progress, while only 15,5% (5,5%-25,5%) perceived a slackening or a crisis in biomedical sciences.

Conclusions: Our results show that many of those interviewed have absorbed the assumptions of the molecular paradigm. The adherence to the paradigm is weaker in graduates, when reductionistic assertions are more rooted, and when questions posed have taken an alternative point of view to allopathy.

Keywords:

Questionnaire, homeopathy and allopathy, explanation of living matter, approach to patients and disease.

Schlüsselwörter:

Fragebogen-Untersuchung, Homöopathie und Allopathie, Beschreibung lebender Materie, Haltung zu Patienten und Kranheit.

Korrespondierender Autor: Francesco Attena¹, Marco Luciano¹, Lucia Francesca Menna², ¹Dip. di Medicina Pubblica Clinica e Preventiva, Facoltà di Medicina, Seconda Università di Napoli, Via Armanni 5, 80138 Napoli, Italy; ²Dip. di Patologia e Sanità Animale, Facoltà di Veterinaria, Università Federico II Napoli, via Delpino 1, I-80137 Napoli, Italy

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