The 33 principles have been the subject of much rhetoric but little has been published on the matter since they were first published in 1927.  I am in the process of writing a paper to contribute to the published material on these often enigmatic and emotion generating principles.  One of the most common misconceptions I see out there is that these 33 principles were meant to be some sort of Chiro Bible or “33 commandments of  Chiropractic.”

RW Stephenson in his classic text had this to say, “Chiropractic like other sciences, has many principles. As in other sciences some of these principles are different from the rest; some being more fundamental than others. This fact can be seen by examining the foregoing definitions of principles. Some of the principles are basic, upon which others are founded or derived as going from the general to the specific; some are down to a part of the whole thing. These specific principles are of course derived principles. They are not limited to any given number. A fundamental principle of Chiropractic is a statement of the quality or actions of intelligence in matter which will include any and all circumstances that may arise in study.  Immediately following are a number of principles which have been chosen for discussion in this book. These are stated and numbered for convenience so that their application to things under discussion can be seen. They are arranged in an order which goes from the general to the specific. They are referred to by number in the text, of which each Article is supported by one or more principles, thereby giving the entire work unity and agreement.” After listing the principles, Stephenson goes on to say, “These principles will be used for the concluding work of the Freshman Section of the book. They are discussed in detail in the Senior Section. The discussions are in advance of the Freshman work, but it is advisable to learn their names for reference.”

It is quite clear that he never intended them to be a perfect syllogism or implied that they were complete themselves without proper explanation as set forth in the remainder of the text. When one reads the entire text, the principles make perfect sense and terms that may seem illogical or ill-defined are defined and explained in great detail.  The 33 principles were intended to help teach the frame of reference the Chiropractor must have in order to successfully care for those in he attended to in accordance with natural law and the clinical practice of Chiropractic.  BJ said it best in his Letter of Approval at the beginning of the text “The one great, grand and glorious thing you HAVE done has been to compile the many principles which are in my writings, into a systematic, organized manner, building them up from simple to the higher forms, so that any layman inclined could investigate and find out what CHIROPRACTIC IS, IS NOT; WHAT IT DOES AND DOES NOT; HOW AND WHY IT DOES WHAT IT DOES. YOU have clearly, carefully and consistently compiled the many PRINCIPLES of Chiropractic into a readable, understandable book, simple enuf for the layman, deep enuf for the savant.”

“There are many paradoxes in Chiropractic; its enemies and people who do not know its principles, too readily condemn it as assertions or tenets opposed to common sense. A closer acquaintance with it, however, reveals the absolute truth of its principles.”  In examining Stephenson’s text and becoming aquainted with Chiropractic’s principles, I have yet to find major errors in the logic.  It has made me a better Chiropractor and allowed me to ask better questions I believe we can use to validate the truth of these principles.