Objective: To examine how six influential chiropractic authors have conceptualised Universal Intelligence in relation to DD Palmer's foundational understanding, with the objective of revealing patterns of continuity and evolution in chiropractic philosophical thought.
Methods: A qualitative, historical-philosophical methodology was employed to conduct systematic comparative analysis of primary works from Palmer (1910), Stephenson (1927), Gold (1998), Coulter (1999), Koch (2008), Strauss (1991), and Senzon (2011). The analytical framework combined historical analysis, conceptual mapping, and philosophical interpretation using established hermeneutical methods and comparative matrix methodology.
Results: Analysis revealed a spectrum of fidelity to Palmer's original vision, with Gold (1998) and Senzon (2011) maintaining strongest alignment through passionate advocacy and sophisticated historical understanding, while Koch (2008) and Strauss (1991) represented greatest departures through philosophical abstraction and theological separation. Four major evolutionary trends emerged: progressive secularisation, academic translation, practical simplification, and theological management of Palmer's original spiritual conceptualisation.
Discussion: The evolution demonstrates what we term ‘The Palmer Paradox’, each author’s legitimate contemporary purposes (academic respectability, practical application, theological clarity) collectively represent a systematic movement away from Palmer's original spiritual, mystical, and evolutionary understanding toward more secularised, academically acceptable, and practically applicable interpretations.
Conclusion: While Universal Intelligence remains central to Chiropractic philosophy, its evolution away from the Founder’s core conceptualisation reflects the profession’s ongoing tension between honouring Palmer’s original spiritual vision and meeting contemporary academic, clinical, and cultural demands. The systematic transformation raises important questions about authenticity, relevance, and the future direction of Chiropractic philosophy.
Author keywords: Chiropractic; Philosophy; Universal Intelligence; DD Palmer; Stephenson; Gold; Coulter; Koch; Strauss; Senzon.
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