Category: Methodology

I don’t have an I phone or a new jazzy I pad.
I also understand the concepts of inductive and deductive reasoning and somewhat less well discussed but frequently used method of abductive reasoning (inference of the best possible explanation by means of incomplete evidence).
In fact I do believe I have a very good tool in abductive reasoning that is too much neglected–there are many uncertainties in life and scientific inquiry. We cannot be present to confirm every piece of evidence we might consider important to prove up an hypothesis.
But I digress. Here Victor discusses the problem of knowledge versus wisdom.
Yesterday another old doc and I, faculty for a residency that is supposed to teach new docs old tricks (think about that a minute).
We were ruminating on how we can teach the art of medicine–in fact–what is the art of being a good diagnostician/therapist/procedurist. What are the magic secrets and tricks and mental strategies that should be taught? How can we short cut to wisdom?
Is an I pad a way to wisdom or a way to the illusion of smarts?
Is there a shortcut to competence and mature wisdom?
We’ll get back to you on that one.
Here’s Victor:
http://www.nationalreview.com/node/373725/print