Being a homeopath. Learning and practice in a homeopathic community
Being a homeopath. Learning and practice in a homeopathic community
Author(s): Ana Maria BorlescuSubject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Universitatea din Bucuresti, Facultatea de Sociologie si Asistenta Sociala
Keywords: communities of practice; knowledge; learning; homeopathy
Summary/Abstract: In this paper I look at the Romanian homeopathic practice through the conceptual lens of the communities of practice. Through interviews with homeopathic practitioners, I investigate the ways they accumulate and share their specific knowledge. Also, I inquire about some homeopathic practices and concepts, such as the consult and the vital force. Then, I present the way homeopaths combine methods that are specific to their practice with biomedical techniques and procedures in order to obtain a better diagnostic and also how they evaluate the usefulness of homeopathic knowledge in comparison with biomedical knowledge. Although this is a small scale research, it sheds light on the importance of the continuous learning process and knowledge sharing that goes on between homeopathic practitioners.
Journal: Journal of Comparative Research in Anthropology and Sociology
- Issue Year: 2/2011
- Issue No: 02
- Page Range: 11-31
- Page Count: 21
- Language: English
