The problem-oriented approach always has played a key role in science where it typically yields a tiny glimpse of a larger picture. Think of the results of an individual study as a single piece in a more complex mosaic. Like all other living beings, we humans are hardwired to get what we want using the least amount of energy. Relative to our higher intellectual pursuits, this means we like to be right because that means we don’t need to change anything. Another nice thing about focusing on the results of individual studies instead of taking a broader view is that it enables us, clever beings that we are, to select those that support our views and ignore those that don’t.
Living in a society that reinforces this kind of selective thinking in multiple areas, I know I routinely fall prey to this kind of flawed thinking. At the same time, though, I’m old enough to remember a time when striving to see the whole picture instead of individual pixels was the norm. Consequently, when I read about the work of Arthur Middleton discussed in this podcast, I felt a satisfaction that I seldom experience when I read individual studies.
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