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Innate Intelligence (sometimes II) is a chiropractic term for the organizing properties of living things. It was originally coined by Daniel David Palmer, the founder of chiropractic. This vitalistic concept states that all life contains innate (inborn) intelligence and that this force is responsible for the organization, maintenance and healing of the body. Philosophically, chiropractors believe that when they remove the interference to the nervous system (by way of a spinal adjustment) so that the spine is in correct alignment, Innate Intelligence can then act (by way of the nervous system), to heal disease within the body. The term is intimately connected with the term universal intelligence. Innate Intelligence, as an explanation for the presence of intelligence in an organism, is in conflict with the overwhelming scientific support for evolution by means of natural selection, neuroscience and genetics. In its time, Innate Intelligence had a great advantage in accounting for the presence of intelligence in life (e.g. the location of intelligence, mode of inscription, and type of intelligence transmission), although elaboration of this intelligence is not well explained by this vitalistic model or concept. Like chiropractic subluxation, there is no empirical evidence that Innate Intelligence exists. Further, the concept of Innate Intelligence is regarded as pseudoscientific and is not accepted by the scientific community. History The concept of Innate Intelligence was expanded upon by B.J. Palmer (D.D. Palmer's son) in the numerous books he wrote. Note that he spelled it with capital letters and it was frequently abbreviated ""II". Originally, it was taught as the "law of life", comparable to the subconscious or the "non-conscious brain", or what causes homeostasis. "However, by not later than 1906 the father of chiropractic had converted these adjectives into nouns, more precisely, proper names": The following paragraph by B.J. Palmer describes his relationship to the concept of Innate Intelligence (all emphasis original): (Palmer’s use of capital lettering as well as his unusual spelling of "thot" were his ways of emphasizing concepts.) Different interpretations The concept of Innate Intelligence can have different meanings to different people for what it describes: Similarly at Life University, they have "embraced the idea that humans are spiritual beings whose lives are directed by universal laws including the natural, vitalistic, innate ability to develop, heal and adapt as long as the body is kept free of interferences." One of the most notable groups placing the most emphasis on the body's Innate Intelligence is the Foundation for the Advancement of Chiropractic Education (F.A.C.E.). They practice what is known as Objective Straight Chiropractic, and do not attempt to treat disease, but only to correct vertebral subluxations. In his book on the philosophy, art, and science of chiropractic, Virgil Strang, D.C., chiropractic philosopher and the seventh President of Palmer College of Chiropractic, discusses his thoughts on homeostasis:
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