Medicine is a science which hath been (as we have said)…
“Medicine is a science which hath been (as we have said) more professed than laboured, and yet more laboured than advanced: the labour having been, in my judgment, rather in circle than in progression. For I find much iteration, but small addition. It considereth causes of diseases, with the occasions or impulsions; the diseases themselves, with the accidents; and the cures, with the preservation.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He critiques medicine as overly theoretical, with many cycles of small changes but little real progress.
In simple terms: Medicine repeats small steps without big breakthroughs.
Key Takeaway
Seek deeper, systematic research beyond incremental tweaks.
Themes
science
medicine
progress
methodology
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
inquisitive
When to use this quote
- clinical trials
- public health policy
- research funding
Key Concepts
epistemology
incrementalism
Questions to Reflect On
- What would a truly progressive medical approach entail?
- How can we break out of circular research patterns?
A Different Perspective
Complex diseases may need paradigm shifts, not just iterations.