title: Medical maxims: two views of science.
abstract: Clinicians are beings with finite minds and thus need to use simplified models of the world in making decisions [1]. However, these models need not be oversimplified, as are the models encouraged by the prevalent view of science, the Mechanistic Paradigm, which are articulated as rigid maxims. A more current view of science, the Probabilistic paradigm, encourages more complex models, which can be articulated as the more flexible maxims used with insight by the wise clinician.
mesh_terms: D008954:Models, Biological; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011338:Probability Theory; D012586:Science