Rethinking Apathy & Doubt by David AlmeidaMD

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Rethinking Apathy Doubt by David AlmeidaMD

• Cogito ergo sum.
• I think, therefore I am.
• This is the proposition most commonly quoted for
  the French philosopher Rene Descartes.

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• However, when you look at his text, Discourse on
  the Method, it actually reads 
• Dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum.
• I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am.
• TASK AT HAND This week Im thinking about doubt
  and apathy. Doubt, in my opinion, is a vital
  force in the quest for understanding. Without
  doubt, the search for knowledge can become
  complacent and dull.
• Without doubt, the search for knowledge can
  become complacent and dull.

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• For Descartes, the act of doubting ones own
  existence served as a basic proof of the reality
  of ones own mind. This doubt, allowed for
  thinking beasts to realize fundamentals. Todays
  Sunday Surgical Scrub is not about Descartes but
  it serves our discussion on doubt well.
• Doubt is an extension of the existence of the
  individual. It is this ability  the ability to
  doubt  that can affirm ones existence and their
  associated system of beliefs and ethics. In
  modern living, with all its virtual connections
  and influences, it is necessary to doubt
  regularly so that one can arrive at key aspects
  of character in multiple scenarios.
• In the modern context, there exists an endless
  sea of statements, many of which are derived
  neither from data or fact. This is where doubt
  can save you! Doubt what you see on social media,
  doubt what you hear on television, doubt what you
  read in the news doubt your teacher and preacher
  alike. Doubt so that you may come to understand.

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• Doubt so that you may come to understand.
• What role does apathy play? Apathy is defined as
  a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern. In
  medicine, it can be a diagnostic clue to
  psychiatric disease. However, I believe the
  strength to be apathetic to garner little
  concern for trivialities can be a boon of
  strength. Consider the human of today as an
  over-connected organism and you realize that to
  effectively think for yourself doubt and apathy
  are cornerstones to living comfortably in your
  own skin.
• MEDICINE MACULA Many thanks to Mpls.St.Paul
  Magazine for selecting me as one of their Top
  Doctors Rising Stars in the April 2017 issue.
  This is awarded to physicians selected through a
  peer-nomination process. You can find the list
  here.

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• GRATIS Descartes published The Discourse on the
  Method in 1637. It was originally
  titled Discourse on the Method of Rightly
  Conducting Ones Reason and of Seeking Truth in
  the Sciences. I like the long title!
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• My best to you,
• David Almeida
• david_at_davidalmeidamd.com