Summary Of The Medusa And The Snail

The excerpt from Lewis Tomas’ The Medusa and the Snail argues that at the “base of human thought” are mistakes which facilitate progress and action. Tomas analysis of human behavior is not unheard of – the thought that mistakes perpetuate progress seems increasingly echoed in the modern world. Thomas’ argument goes a step past touting the benefits of mistakes, though – he also proposed that direct conflict bolsters action. The ability to be wrong, Thomas argues, is a gift to humanity, because this wrongness can be corrected and progress can be made. In both cases, Tomas accurately depicts the characteristics of humanity in relation to mistakes and conflict.

Perhaps one of the most pervasive modern examples of the extent that inaccuracy develops
and is counteracted is the supposed link between vaccination and autism.
To understand the anti-vaccination movement, particularly when pertaining to the development of autism in children, we must first understand its origins. In 1998, Andrew Wakefield published a study in The Lancet which observed a link between autism and the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine in all eight participants. However, problems with the study quickly became apparent. The study was not properly blinded and it was unclear whether the effects observed were coincidental or causational. Ultimately, it was discovered that Wakefield’s observations were falsified, and his medical license was revoked. Despite Wakefield’s research being discredited, his claims live on in the world, particularly in online communities, aided by Wakefield’s continued dedication to anti-vaccination. However, a vast group of scientists and parents has developed to counteract inaccuracies perpetuated by Wakefield and activists like him. In the aftermath of Wakefield’s Lancet study, dozens of large-scale studies were performed – none were able to replicate Wakefield’s results. Now, a Google search for “dangers of vaccines” or even “vaccines and autism” show mostly the published research from
these studies, websites and articles dedicated to correcting misconceptions, and pages from government organizations, like the CDC, which compile the evidence and provide parents with a full scope of information on vaccines, including the autism studies, potential side effects, normal and abnormal reactions, and suggested vaccination schedules. While inaccurate information provided by Wakefield and those like him continue to scare parents and make them question vaccination, a growing counterculture to Wakefield and those like him is continuing research to provide factual information on the potential dangers of vaccines, their effectiveness, and their benefits.

The phrase “practice makes perfect” is one commonly repeated when someone is attempting to improve in any way.
It reflects the sentiment felt by Tomas – that mistakes incite progress and development in a positive direction. Increasingly, the benefits of mistakes are touted as being the best method for development in all parts of life – there are many books and articles that praise criticism for its benefits. An online lifestyle piece run by the New York Times (“Why It’s So Hard to Hear Negative Feedback”) instructs readers on how to receive criticism in a manner that facilitates progress, and dozens of other newspapers and magazines have sought to teach people to both crave criticism and properly give it. It is clear that the concept presented by Tomas has been embraced, though, mostly in a context that would improve the workplace. In this way, the concept that mistakes are positive is not uncommon in the modern world, and oftentimes people are instructed to crave being criticized for these
mistakes.

Two things become clear when Tomas’ concepts are applied more ambiguously to the modern world. Firstly: misinformation (“the faculty of wrongness) is corrected, while perhaps not quickly, eventually, in a way that clarifies previous doubt while challenging inaccuracy. Secondly: mistakes have, in the modern world, been largely embraced as their value has been consistently observed. In both cases, the facilitation of progress, whether medical and scientific (in the case of the Wakefield controversy) or social and personal (in the popular encouragement to embrace criticism) is encouraged through the process of making mistakes.