Life and adaptation
Innate Intelligence
The name these writers give to the organizing intelligence within a living thing.
The big idea
Stephenson uses Innate Intelligence to explain how the parts of a living body serve the whole. In his framework, its task is active organization and adaptation. This is a philosophical explanation of living activity, rather than a claim about how smart someone is.
An everyday illustration
An orchestra has many instruments playing different parts. Listening to the whole helps you notice the coordination, not just each individual sound.
An original illustration to help explain the idea, not a quotation or evidence of a biological mechanism.
In the author’s words
“A “living thing” has an inborn intelligence within its body, called Innate Intelligence.”
1927 edition · PDF page 30
Explore this book
“To be consistent with the objective of this talk, it is written with we and us in mind.”
1949 edition · PDF page 27
Explore this book
Short excerpts from the indexed edition; line breaks are normalized. PDF page numbers refer to the source file, and may differ from printed page numbers.
Read it in context
Stephenson presents a numbered definition. B.J. Palmer later invites readers to think in terms of an Innate and an Educated individuality, using a more personal style.
Keep the question going
Explore innate intelligence with Ask B.J.
How does the Green Books discussion of innate intelligence help a new reader understand chiropractic philosophy? Explain simply, cite the relevant passages, and distinguish historical philosophy from current clinical evidence.
Take this question to Ask B.J.Your question will be filled in for you to review. Ask B.J.’s existing account and daily question limits apply.