LETTER
Dichotomous Disservice
Timothy G. Ferris, MD, MPhil
1 December 1997 | Volume 127 Issue 11 | Page 1044
TO THE EDITOR:
. Dr. Carleton's point on the obfuscation produced when complex natural phenomena are reduced to dichotomous classes is an important lesson [1]. I wonder, however, if we have an alternative. Anthropologists have long been aware that in every society studied, humans have a remarkably consistent tendency to think in small whole numbers [2, 3]. In fact, all classification systems (the way in which we order the world) require arbitrary distinctions in order for us to perform the logical operations we commonly call thinking. The example Dr. Carleton provides may illustrate this point. Would we not simply replace the dichotomy "Q wave/no Q wave" for some more accurate dichotomous distinction (or set of distinctions), such as "change in R/no change in R"? If so, I might then modify Dr. Carleton's opening line: Physicians, like all humans, often prefer to think dichotomously about phenomena that are clearly continua.
|
Author and Article Information
|
|---|
Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston, MA 02114
1. Carleton RA. Dichotomous disservice? Ann Intern Med. 1997; 126:589-91.
2. Needham R, ed. Right and Left: Essays in Dual Symbolic Classification. Chicago: Chicago Univ Pr; 1973.
3. Needham R. Essential perplexities. In: Circumstancial Deliveries. Berkeley, CA: Univ of California Pr; 1981.
About Letters
The Editors welcome submissions for possible publication in the Letters section. Authors of letters should:
•Include no more than 300 words of text, three authors, and five references
•Type with double-spacing
•Send three copies of the letter, an authors' form signed by all authors, and a cover letter describing any conflicts of interest related to the contents of the letter.
Letters commenting on an Annals article will be considered if they are received within 6 weeks of the time the article was published. Only some of the letters received can be published. Published letters are edited and may be shortened; tables and figures are included only selectively. Authors will be notified that the letter has been received. If the letter is selected for publication, the author will be notified about 3 weeks before the publication date. Unpublished letters cannot be returned.
Annals welcomes electronically submitted letters.
Top
Author & Article Info
References
Article
