2. _A certain amount of acquaintance with physical science_, chemistry,
botany, mineralogy, etc., in fact with all that embodies a knowledge of
the outward relations which the things in this phenomenal world bear to
each other and to the body of man, (therapeutics).
3. A certain amount of acquaintance with _the views and opinions of
modern accepted medical authorities_, however erroneous they may be.
4. A certain amount of _judgment and aptitude_ to put the acquired
theories into practice.
All this is very well as far as it goes; but it may be seen at once
that all the knowledge required of a modern practitioner refers only
to the external plane of existence; the animal body of man and its
physical surroundings. As to a science of “psychology,” to call that
which goes by that name as such at present, is a misnomer; for there
can be no science of the soul as long as the existence of a soul
(_pysche_) is not recognized.[10] The invisible, spiritual or causal
body within the nature of man is entirely ignored by science, and even
if any modern physician personally believes in a soul, he will almost
without exception consider this subject as belonging exclusively to the
Church, and as something with which science has nothing to do.
Nevertheless, if the term “religion” means the knowledge of the
relation which the outward terrestrial man bears to the creative
power in him, his own inner Self, which is the seat of not only his
spiritual but also the indirect source of his physical life; it would
seem that a knowledge of that religion which teaches the nature of
this true inner and immortal being, and also the links which connect
that higher nature with the physical form, would be an indispensable
and most important part of a true science and system of medicine based
upon the recognition of truth; and although theory precedes practice,
this knowledge should not be merely of that theoretical kind which is
only imaginary and not real, and which in persons who are attempting
to grasp things which they are not able to realise produces a wild and
absolutely fruitless mysticism; but it should be of that kind which
through experience constitutes self-knowledge, and which is possible
only through the realization of the possession of the ideals one wishes
to know.
According to Theophrastus Paracelsus the following are the four pillars
of medicine:—
I.—PHILOSOPHIA.
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