functional polarity: A unity in antithesis; an identitythrough opposition. A functional polarity consists of twofunctions which are polar opposites, but which together entails alarger, more inclusive function, referred to as their commonfunctioning principle.

The following are fourexamples of functional polarities discussed by Hahnemann:

a. the human Wesenand the human Spiritwhose common functioning principle is human being,

b. the conditionand the state of anorganism, and which Hahnemann refers to as the condition-state,

c. the sustentivepower of life and the generative power of life, and

d. intellectualknowledge (wissen) and knowledge based on participativeexperience (kennen,erkennen) whose common functioning principle is knowing.

Hahnemann's mode of thoughtand writing is neither linear nor abstract, but ratherfunctional. Hahnemann's functional way of viewing his subject isso complete and consistent that for every functional conceptpresented to the reader, there is almost always, somewhere in theOrganon, the presentation of its functional complement.Functional polarities are more fully explicated in the writingsof Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Goethe and Wilhelm Reich. The term'functional polarity' is used in the Glossary to define terms; itis not used by Hahnemann. [SRD]