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Robert A. Burton

Robert A. Burton Books

Physician

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“We want to be known for having original ideas, inspired hunches, and gut feelings that make a difference. Indeed, a "well-honed sixth sense"' is considered a measure of the good clinician. But being a good doctor also requires sticking with the best medical evidence, even if it contradicts your personal experience. We need to distinguish between gut feeling and testable knowledge, between hunches and empirically tested evidence.”

IfsWantNeedsWellsIdeasFeelingsDifferencesKnownEvidenceDoctorsOriginalsInspiredMedicalMaking A DifferenceGutsTestedPersonal ExperiencesHunchesOriginal IdeasGut FeelingsSixth SenseCliniciansGood DoctorsBest Medical
Book:On Being Certain: Believing You Are Right Even When You're Not
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“Tobacco, divine, rare, superexcellent tobacco, which goes far beyond all the panaceas, potable gold, and philosophers stones, a sovereign remedy to all diseases but as it is commonly abused by most men, which take it as tinkers do ale, 'Tis a plague, a mischief, a violent purger of goods, lands, health; hellish, devilish and damned tobacco, the ruin and overthrow of body and soul.”

MenSoulBodyLandDivineDiseaseStonesGoldPhilosopherViolentRuinsSmokingGoodsRemedySovereignPlagueTobaccoMischiefAleDevilishPanacea
Author:Robert A. Burton
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“Properly conducted scientific studies . . . give us a pretty good idea of when something is likely to be correct. To me, pretty good is a linguistic statistic that falls somewhere in between more likely than not and beyond a reasonable doubt, et avoides the pitfalls arising from the belief in complete objectivity.”

GivingIdeasFallBeliefStudyDoubtHumilityReasonableGood IdeasObjectivityPitfallsReasonable DoubtBeyond A Reasonable Doubt
Author:Robert A. Burton
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“Certainty is not biologically possible. We must learn (and teach our children) to tolerate the unpleasantness of uncertainty. Science has given us the language and tools of probabilities. We have methods for analyzing and ranking opinion according to their likelihood of correctness. That is enough.”

ChildrenEnoughLanguageGivenOpinionTeachHumilityToolsOur ChildrenMethodCertaintyUncertaintyTolerateProbabilityCorrectnessLikelihoodAnalyzingRanking
Author:Robert A. Burton
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“Good science requires distinguishing between "felt knowledge" and knowledge arising out of testable observations. "I am sure" is a mental sensation, not a testable conclusion. Put hunches, gut feelings, and intuitions into the suggestion box. Let empiric methods shake out the good from bad suggestions.”

FeelingsFeltHumilityMethodBoxesIntuitionConclusionObservationShakesGutsSensationsSuggestionsHunchesGut FeelingsGood ScienceSuggestion Boxes
Book:On Being Certain: Believing You Are Right Even When You're Not
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“Good science is more than the mechanics of research and experimentation. Good science requires that scientists look inward-to contemplate the origin of their thoughts. The failures of science do not begin with flawed evidence or fumbled statistics; they begin with personal self-deception and an unjustified sense of knowing.”

LooksSelfKnowingHumilityResearchEvidenceScientistDeceptionStatisticsContemplatingInwardMechanicFlawedSelf DeceptionExperimentationUnjustifiedGood Science
Book:On Being Certain: Believing You Are Right Even When You're Not
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“No one seriously doubts Socrates' maxim: The unexamined life isn't worth living. Self-assessment and attempts at self-improvement are essential aspects of "the good life." Yes, we should engage in ruthless self-reflection and harsh scrutiny, but we should simultaneously acknowledge that such introspection will, at best, only result in a partial view of our minds at work. Complete objectivity is not an option.”

ShouldMindSelfResultsViewsDoubtHumilityEssentialsSelf ImprovementReflectionAspectImprovementAcknowledgeGood LifeHarshIntrospectionMaximsRuthlessSelf ReflectionWorth LivingObjectivityAssessmentScrutinySelf AssessmentUnexamined Life
Book:On Being Certain: Believing You Are Right Even When You're Not
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