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The Psychological Point of View - Stuart Close

Chapter I, "The Genius of Homeopathy: Lectures and Essays on Homeopathic Philosophy"

Overview

Stuart Close opens his book with this chapter precisely because he considers the psychological standpoint to be the foundation of all homeopathic thought and practice. Before any discussion of materia medica, posology, or pathology can be meaningful, the practitioner must first establish the correct mental orientation - the right "point of view."

1. Great Personalities as the Origin of Truth

Close begins with a sweeping philosophical observation: all great forward movements in religion, science, or art originate in the mind of some outstanding individual who "appears at the psychological moment and announces his mission."

He draws parallels between:

Moses and Luther (religion)
Washington and Lincoln (statecraft)
Plato and Bacon (philosophy)
Hippocrates and Hahnemann (medicine)

Each of these figures, in their own sphere and period, represents a truth to which "the world comes and must come for instruction, inspiration, and leadership." Hahnemann occupies this role for homeopathy - his personality and teaching are the original source from which everything else flows. The student who wishes to understand homeopathy must go directly to Hahnemann, just as the Christian goes to Christ and the scientist goes to Newton.

2. Homeopathy as a State of Mind

This is the central psychological thesis of the chapter:

"Homeopathy, from the psychological standpoint, is essentially a state of mind existent in the person of its representative."

Close argues that homeopathy is not merely a collection of techniques or a bag of remedies - it is a philosophy that must be internalized. It is "the personal side of homeopathy." The practitioner's personality - the sum of all their essential attributes and qualities - is a "condition-precedent to professional success."

This means:

You cannot practice homeopathy correctly by following rules mechanically
The correct point of view must be acquired, not just learned intellectually
The practitioner must act from this standpoint in each case, not just know about it

3. Qualities of the True Homeopathician

Close outlines the personal qualities required for efficiency in homeopathic practice:

Native ability - natural intellectual and observational capacity
Acquired technical proficiency - mastery of the tools, repertory, and materia medica
Logical consistency - applying principles uniformly, without contradiction

And the moral-psychological virtues that underpin these:

Honesty - intellectual honesty, willingness to follow evidence over prejudice
Courage - the courage to stand by principles even under criticism
Fidelity to a high ideal - commitment to the complete system of Hahnemann
A right point of view - the psychological orientation this entire chapter establishes

4. Homeopathy Must Stand or Fall as a Whole

Close is uncompromising on one point: homeopathy is a complete, integral system. Every part - the life force, the single remedy, potentization, infinitesimals, the minimum dose, the totality of symptoms - is essential. You cannot discard some parts while retaining others:

"Nothing conflicting with its established principles can be added to it, nothing taken away, if it is to stand in its integrity."

He sharply criticizes those who adopt a partial or "emasculated" homeopathy, dismissing concepts like the vital force or single remedy as "unessential, so long as the principle of similia was maintained." Close calls this a "mutilated homeopathy - a lame and crippled thing, compelled to sustain itself by crutches, splints, and braces." Such practitioners, he says, have failed to comprehend the subject as a whole.

5. The Individual vs. The Institution

A particularly important psychological and philosophical point: Close insists that the spirit and principles of homeopathy have never been, and can never be, solely in the keeping of any institution. Organizations change and die:

"Individuals unite in small or great societies and work together harmoniously for a time, but not for long. Disagreements arise, they dissolve their original relations and form others; but the work goes on because the Spirit of Truth always draws together those of like minds for the attainment of a common object."

It is always the individual who, at critical periods, preserves, passes on, and perpetuates the truth. This places a great and solemn responsibility on each practitioner as a "living embodiment and representative of the truth." The survival of homeopathy does not depend on societies, journals, or hospitals - it depends on the character and conviction of individual practitioners.

6. The Practical Implication

Close concludes Chapter I by tying the psychological point of view directly to practical work. Having established this correct mental standpoint, the practitioner can then approach every subsequent problem - diagnosis, symptom analysis, remedy selection, posology - in a consistent and principled way. The chapter essentially serves as a psychological and philosophical "key" that unlocks the rest of the book.

"Having defined the qualities and attributes that enter into the makeup of the homeopathician, the various practical problems and technical processes of homeopathy can be taken up and discussed from the point of view already established."

Summary Table

Theme	Core Idea
Homeopathy as a state of mind	It is an internalized philosophy, not just a method
Role of personality	The practitioner's character is the primary instrument
Completeness of the system	All principles must be accepted; partial homeopathy fails
Individual over institution	Truth is preserved by individuals, not organizations
Required qualities	Honesty, courage, logical consistency, fidelity
Origin in great personalities	Hahnemann is the source; students must return to him

Source: Stuart M. Close, The Genius of Homeopathy: Lectures and Essays on Homeopathic Philosophy, Chapter I - "The Psychological Point of View." Available at homeoint.org and Internet Archive PDF.

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