“Even mistaken hypotheses and theories are of use in leading to discoveries. This remark is true in all the sciences. The alchemists founded chemistry by pursuing chimerical problems and theories which are false. In physical science, which is more advanced than biology, we might still cite men of science who make great discoveries by relying on false theories.” MenMindStillsUseProblemSeemsMightAbleScienceMistakeTheoryWeaknessDiscoveryErrorsObstaclesBiologyChemistryMultitudesMistakenHypothesisRemarksAlchemistCitingPhysical Science Author:Claude Bernard
“In every enterprise ... the mind is always reasoning, and, even when we seem to act without a motive, an instinctive logic still directs the mind. Only we are not aware of it, because we begin by reasoning before we know or say that we are reasoning, just as we begin by speaking before we observe that we are speaking, and just as we begin by seeing and hearing before we know what we see or what we hear.” KnowsMindStillsSeemsScienceSeeingLogicHearingMotiveReasoningEnterprise Author:Claude Bernard
“The goal of scientific physicians in their own science ... is to reduce the indeterminate. Statistics therefore apply only to cases in which the cause of the facts observed is still indeterminate.” StillsFactsScienceCausesGoalCasesObservationStatisticsPhysicians Book:An Introduction to the Study of Experimental Medicine Source: An Introduction to the Study of Experimental Medicine
“I do not ... reject the use of statistics in medicine, but I condemn not trying to get beyond them and believing in statistics as the foundation of medical science. ... Statistics ... apply only to cases in which the cause of the facts observed is still [uncertain or] indeterminate. ... There will always be some indeterminism ... in all the sciences, and more in medicine than in any other. But man's intellectual conquest consists in lessening and driving back indeterminism in proportion as he gains ground for determinism by the help of the experimental method.” MenTryingBelieveStillsFactsHelpingUseScienceCausesCasesIntellectualGainsMethodFoundationMedicineIntellectMedicalDrivingObservationProportionRejectsStatisticsUncertainConquestDeterminismMedical Science Author:Claude Bernard
“Proof that a given condition always precedes or accompanies a phenomenon does not warrant concluding with certainty that a given condition is the immediate cause of that phenomenon. It must still be established that when this condition is removed, the phenomen will no longer appear.” DoeStillsScienceGivenCausesConditionsProofCertaintyPhenomenonAccompanyWarrantsConcluding Book:An Introduction to the Study of Experimental Medicine Source: An Introduction to the Study of Experimental Medicine
“The minds that rise and become really great are never self-satisfied, but still continue to strive.” MindStillsSelfScienceStriveSatisfiedReally Great Book:Experimental Medicine Source: Experimental Medicine
