Of the American Institute of Homeopathy

Since homeopathy was conceptualized as rational therapeutics by its founder, Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), it is based not only on empiricism, but also on principles whose inner coherence has to be in accordance with logical rules. Accordingly, the rationality of Hahnemann's therapeutics cannot be proved by case studies alone, but by an attempt at reconstructing the leading principles of his concepts. In the reconstruction demonstrated below seven logical Steps can be distinguished: 1. The starting-point of Hahnemann's endeavor to rational therapeutics 2. The criticism of former principles of therapeutics 3. The scientific approach and its limits in therapeutics 4. The extension of the approach in order to comprehend further experiences 5. The arguments for the fundamental possibility of rational therapeutics 6. The revelation of the Principle of Similars as a maxim to eure dynamic diseases 7. The elaboration of the homeopathic doctrine of healing dynamic diseases The history of homeopathy shows that most of the points in dispute among homeopaths and allopaths came about because of the lack of knowledge of the principles and limits of their own respective concepts.