Vithoulkas Expert System

In an ordinary computer program, the computer calculates, extracts and lists data on the basis of simple arithmetic formulae. e.g. in the Sum of symptoms analysis module, the number of occurrences for each remedy are logged, and remedies listed in order of most frequent occurrence.

Sum of Degrees

Lists in first place the Rx which has scored highest on the basis of degrees in the Repertory, i.e. BOLD, italics, etc.
Sum of Symptoms and Degrees, calculates the two together.
Small Rx promotes lesser known Rx's
Small Rubrics promotes remedies occurring in rubrics containing only a few Rx's
Prominence promotes remedies that for example are the only black type remedy in a rubric.
Further sophistication may be brought to the above methods by the inclusion of underlining, to indicate the intensity of the symptom in that particular patient.

Expert System

The idea of an expert system is to reproduce the reasoning of an expert in a given field. It is characterised by a database(Synthesis), and a great number of specific principles for analysing information chosen from the database.

How was it made?

In February 1987 a team of Expert System Analysts and a group of homoeopaths sat down with George Vithoulkas, and for several months wrote down all the principles and impressions that went through George's mind during a consultation. These were then refined to be as precise as possible.

The Making of the VES

The information was then translated into representations of an Expert System that resembled more accurately the way a computer functions.

The principles that make up the VES are ALL the ideas that GV has ever produced during his courses, many of them common to Homoeopathy, some specific to his approach.

Examples of Principles

Mind symptoms are generally considered more important than locals, but there are cases when prominent Keynotes may be considered more important.

If you underline a symptom twice, the VES will give it exactly the importance it deserves in relation to all the other symptoms, and relative to the importance you have given them.

Like a Chess Program?

A chess program re-evaluates its whole strategy with every move you make. So with the VES.

I have certainly found that using VES has helped me to improve my prescribing. In that way it has been like a chess program too, in that I have learned from it!

Who made it?

The Head of the Scientific side of Radar is the Head of the Computer Science Dept.. at the University of Namur in Belgium, Professor Fichefét.

Radar was in fact started by the University as a pilot Expert System project.
The marketing is now done by a sister company called Archibel, in collaboration with Homoeopaths all around the world.

Philip Edmonds RSHom.

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