The purpose of this book specifically is to teach surgeons (academic or community), surgical fellows and surgical residents regardless of the surgical specialty, the skills to appraise what they read in the surgical literature. Surgeons need to be able to understand what they read before applying the conclusions of a surgical article to their practice. As most surgeons do not have the extra training in health research methodology, understanding how the research was done, how to interpret the results and finally deciding to apply them to the patient level is indeed a difficult task. Chapters explain the methodological issues pertaining to the various study designs reported in the surgical literature. Most chapters begin with a clinical scenario with uncertain course of action with which most surgeons are struggling. Readers are taught how to search the literature for the best evidence that will answer the surgical problem under discussion. An identified article that seems relevant to the problem you are investigating can be appraised by addressing 3 key questions: 1). Is the study I am reading valid? 2). What are the results of this study? 3). Can I apply these results to my patients? While the primary goal of Evidence-Based Surgery is to teach surgeons how to appraise the surgical literature, an added benefit is that the concepts explained here may help research-minded surgeons produce higher quality research.
Aristotle's assertion that in Greek tragedy there is no loftier work than "Oedipus the King" cannot be lightly contradicted. This drama is endued fearfully with nature, as she works against the conscientiousness of measure found in man. Heretofore no translation of this play has been a poem of Sophoclean worthiness and work. The rhythmic stature of this translation runs with the Greek in heat and light.
We live in an era rife with cultural conflict. The 21st century is by no means free of wars, terrorism, riots, famine, nor epidemics. We may attempt to solve the challenges of our times by uniting the humanistic disciplines of philosophy, science, and technology. Our modern reality requires a fundamental understanding of the problems beleaguering our existence. Science and literature are key tools for gaining this insight. The wisdom accumulated throughout the centuries by scientists, philosophers, and writers is a solid foundation on which modern man can build the future. Our ability to learn from those who have come before is precisely what led Protagoras to declare that "Man is the measure of all things."
Contents:
Poetics by Aristotle
The Athenian Constitution by Aristotle
On Life and Death by Aristotle
Agamemnon by Aeschylus
The Eumenides by Aeschylus
The Choephori by Aeschylus
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Medea by Euripides
The Works and Days by Hesiod
The Theogony by Hesiod
The Shield of Heracles by Hesiod
The Odyssey by Homer
The Apology of Socrates by Plato
Charmides by Plato
Crito by Plato
Euthyphro by Plato
Ion by Plato
Laches by Plato
Lysis by Plato
Menexenus by Plato
The Republic by Plato
The Allegory of the Cave by Plato
Symposium by Plato
Meno by Plato
Phaedo by Plato
Critias by Plato
The Complete Poems by Sappho
Antigone by Sophocles