Science & methodology
90 sourcesRay Peat was deeply concerned with the methodology and philosophy of science, and much of his work was as much about how we know things as about what we know. He was critical of the reductionist, mechanistic approach that dominates modern biology, arguing that it fragments organisms into parts and misses emergent properties. He advocated for an organismic, holistic approach influenced by thinkers like Alfred North Whitehead, Carl Rogers, and the Gestalt tradition.
Peat frequently criticized the way statistical methods, peer review, and funding structures shape scientific conclusions. He argued that many widely accepted medical beliefs rest on flawed studies, selective citation, and institutional inertia rather than solid evidence. He encouraged people to read primary sources critically rather than accepting consensus summaries, and he modeled this approach in his own extensively referenced articles and newsletters.
Key Positions
- Criticized reductionist, mechanistic biology for missing emergent properties
- Advocated for organismic, holistic scientific methodology
- Influenced by Whitehead, Rogers, and Gestalt traditions
- Argued that funding structures and peer review distort scientific consensus
- Encouraged critical reading of primary sources over consensus summaries
- Saw statistical methodology as often misapplied in medical research
- His own articles modeled extensive primary source engagement
Sources
90 items-
Ask the Herb Doctor: Diagnosis
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Fri Dec 15 2017 from Ask the Herb Doctor -
Ask the Herb Doctor: Economics
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Fri Oct 20 2017 from Ask the Herb Doctor -
Ask the Herb Doctor: Endocrinology (Part 2)
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Fri Apr 21 2017 from Ask the Herb Doctor -
Ask the Herb Doctor: Endocrinology (Part 1): Parkinson's
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Fri Mar 17 2017 from Ask the Herb Doctor -
Ask the Herb Doctor: Vitamin D
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Fri Nov 18 2016 from Ask the Herb Doctor -
Ask the Herb Doctor: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Fri Oct 21 2016 from Ask the Herb Doctor -
Ask the Herb Doctor: The Metabolism of Cancer
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Fri Jul 15 2016 from Ask the Herb Doctor -
Ask the Herb Doctor: Exploring Alternatives
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Fri May 20 2016 from Ask the Herb Doctor -
ray peat bud weiss and misha sakharoff on co2 keto etc
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Ask the Herb Doctor: Nitric Oxide, Nitrates, Nitrites, and Fluoride
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Fri Dec 18 2015 from Ask the Herb Doctor -
Ask the Herb Doctor: Steiner Schools and Education
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Fri Nov 20 2015 from Ask the Herb Doctor -
Ask the Herb Doctor: On The Back of a Tiger
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Fri Jul 17 2015 from Ask the Herb Doctor -
Politics & Science: Evolution
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Wed Mar 04 2015 from Politics & Science -
Ask the Herb Doctor: Field Biology
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Fri Sep 19 2014 from Ask the Herb Doctor -
Ask the Herb Doctor: Thinking Outside the Box - New Cancer Treatments
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Fri Aug 15 2014 from Ask the Herb Doctor -
Ask the Herb Doctor: Vaccination II
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Fri Jul 18 2014 from Ask the Herb Doctor -
It's Rainmaking Time: Energy-Protective Materials
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Mon Jun 02 2014 from It's Rainmaking Time -
dr peat answers questions regarding health diet and nutration part one
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EastWest Healing: Energy and Metabolism
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Wed Jul 17 2013 from EastWest Healing -
organizing the panic
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Genetics vs Environment — Andrew Murray
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EastWest Healing: Cholesterol and Saturated Fats
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Thu Sep 29 2011 from EastWest Healing -
EastWest Healing: Serotonin and Endotoxin
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Thu Aug 25 2011 from EastWest Healing -
Ask the Herb Doctor: Hair loss, Inflammation, Osteoporosis
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Fri Jul 15 2011 from Ask the Herb Doctor -
EastWest Healing: Questions and Answers I
Ray Peat interview/radio show on Tue Jul 12 2011 from EastWest Healing