What does Dick (1995) himself theorise about the I Ching?
Dick (1995) describes I Ching as “a multiphasic physical exam”(p.179) , which means people can derive a hexagram to analyse and diagnose the current situation they are in, then they may base on those analysis to predict what may happen in the future. Therefore, I Ching is an analytical method but not predictive. And, it is a fun book to read.
On the other hand, Dick mentions that I Ching would be a helpful method for schizophrenia patients. When Schizophrenics got a favourable hexagram, they would relieve anxiety and feel relaxed; if their hexagram is misfortunate; their fears were justified, because they would avoid the specific event at particular time. Therefore, their fears about typical events were justified as a one day disaster.
Dick’s idea of using I Ching to help schizophrenics may be a good idea. I think the study of I Ching bring him some inspiration on his writing as well, especially in The Man in the High Castle,because a number of characters used I Ching to answer questions that governed the direction of the book.
However, I think Dick’s (1995) I Ching is more like a device to solve problems, or close to Taoist natural philosophy. Since ancient times, I Ching in Chinese tradition is a vital theory, which is the source of China's traditional ideology and culture in the practice of natural philosophy.
Dick, P. K. (1995). Schizophrenia and the change book.(pp.175-182). New York: Vintage
To add my two cents, I do not quite understand how Dick viewed I-Ching as helping schizophrenic patients? Many schizophrenics feel intense paranoia and surely having these confirmed by the IChing would make things worse not better? I agree that it is a device to solve problems however it seems to, rather than telling a person what to do, help see and reach their own conclusion.
ReplyDeleteHi Helen,
ReplyDeleteI think Dick wants to emphasis that I chang is a universal way to solve problems, it works for anyone .I think, he just provide an example which how the schizophrenic patients use it. But I also want to mention that himself is Schizophrenic patient as well.