A good understanding of holistic science requires purging oneself of the particular mind-body dualism that sublty pervades Western knowledge systems. This dualism involves a separation of mind and body. The essence of this perspective is that the body is a chemico-physical mechanism that has its own optimum operating conditions and is relatively independent of the mind which has its own quite separate performance characteristics.

The result of this is that when treating the mind, the body is largely ignored and when treating the body, the mind is largely ignored.

In the human service sector the Western mind-body separation means that events in the body are seen to be hugely influenced by physical factors such as genetic makeup and accidents while events in the mind are seen to be influenced by cognitive factors such as education and thought patterns developed through role modeling during upbringing.

Some examples of this view:

• Disease occurs as a physiological condition in which the mind mostly has an observer role, and in which the malaise can be fixed through physiological means, usually drugs, without much mental input (not including that required to suffer the pain of illness!)


• Education is entirely a cognitive process that does not require the use of the body, which can be 'parked' in quite a neutral (seated) position for the duration of the learning experience. There is no notion that position/mobility/exercise of the body may help in the absorption and retention of intellectual material.


• Psychotherapy for the treatment of behavioural/mental problems consists mostly of cognitive solutions such as talking with or changing thought patterns. There is little idea that the body may be the vessel for as much of a person's psychological disorder as the mind.


• Physiotherapists, chiropracters and osteopaths treat body problems by dealing with the body as a physical instrument. They do not acknowledge the role of the mind or the user in any physical problems that occur. The mind of the patient or how they may have led themselves to use their body in a manner which led to their injury is not included in their training or knowledge. Nor are patients given any guidance in how to avoid future problems. The body is seen as an item separate from the mind.

The origins of duality in Western knowledge systems can be traced back to Renee Descartes (1596 - 1650) who is responsible for the famous quote: "I think therefore I am".  Descartes' philosophy enabled science to be accepted within the christian philisophical framework by acknowledging a disconnection between the human spirit, or intellect (where science is conducted) and the human body.  From then onwards, scientific knowledge was able to progress with only minor friction against christian beliefs and most major scientists were dedicated Christians. Sir Isaac Newton, who wrote vast theological treatises as well as making some of the single most important contributions to science is a case in point.

Confidence in Western duality, which pushed European civilization inexorably forward for several centuries, was seriously questioned in the 1960's with the small revolution that accompanied rock music and since then Eastern, New Age and various other philosophies which negate the mind-body split have flooded the idea market and the duality is slowly being broken down.