The First10EM monthly wrap up is a place for me to share updates about the website, about my academic life, and also interesting content, such as books, podcasts, and other FOAMed, that I have encountered in the prior month. Obviously the format means the focus is mostly on content I have found, but I hope the community gets engaged in the comments, sharing books, podcasts, FOAMed, or anything else that you think would benefit or delight the broader emergency medicine community.
I was at the North York General Emergency Medicine Update conference this month, which is always a great time. I recorded versions of my two talks “RSI and then they die” and a 2024 literature update – so you can watch them even if you weren’t at the conference:
There were a few more videos added to the First10EM YouTube channel, which is really starting to take off, so make sure to subscribe if you haven’t.
Managing the bleeding tracheostomy
Oral antibiotics are better than IV
You MUST know how to perform Delayed Sequence Intubation
What I am reading
Not exactly high end fiction, but Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros has dragons and magic, and feels a little like a melding of Hunger Games and Game of Thrones? The sex scenes might be a little smutty for some people’s taste, and the story lacks the rich politics and deeper themes of truly great fantasy novels, but if you just want a fun page turner about a young woman trying to survive magic dragon school, you will probably enjoy this.
And yes, Fourth Wing was good enough that I did read the sequel, Iron Flame, immediately afterwards. It is a trilogy, and the third book isn’t out yet. That has really burned me before (I am still desperately waiting for book 3 of the The Kingkiller Chronicle 13 years after finishing the second book), so maybe be cautious if you don’t like picking up unfinished sagas.
The politics of intolerance based around anthropomorphized rabbits? If that sounds like your cup of tea, then The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde was a decent and somewhat humorous novel.
I might have suggested it before, but I was re-reading some chapters of Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Adventures in Philosophy with My Kids, and it is a really enjoyable and approachable book on philosophy.
Interesting media / FOAMed
I was a really busy month, so I spent very little time in the general media and FOAMed realm, but I would like to change that for next month, so if there are great podcasts, YouTube videos, or FOAMed that was recently published, please share it in the comments, so everyone can enjoy.
Quotes or Thoughts
I would love some people’s thoughts on this: If potential knowledge is unlimited, but human life is distinctly limited, is the pursuit of knowledge pointless or problematic in some way? (Probably very poorly paraphrased from a number of Taoist texts. I believe the most common translation is “perilous”, but I am not sure what that means for my practical approach to life.)
In many ways, this adage seems antithetical to the way I lead my life. I find it interesting, and as long as one does not over-interpret it to the point of nihilism, it probably contains an important lesson. But I would really love to hear people’s thoughts.
Two men come to visit a Zen teacher to inquire about moving to his village.
The first man enters and says, “I am thinking of moving to this village, how is it here?” The teacher replies, “Well, how is your current village?” The man responds, “It’s terrible, I hate it there.” The Zen teacher answers, “This village is the same, you won’t like it.”
The second man enters and says, “I am thinking of moving to this village, how is it here?” The teacher replies, “Well, how is your current village?” The man responds, “It’s wonderful, I love it there.” The Zen teacher answers, “This village is the same, you will like it.”
“There is no such thing as philosophy free science, just science that has been conducted without any consideration of its underlying philosophical assumptions.” – Daniel Dennett
2 thoughts on “The First10EM monthly wrap-up for May 2024”
A UK politician once said he was best read when he left university. Thereafter the amount for him to read grew exponentially whilst his reading could only be linear. I cannot disagree with him.
ChatGPT about Thomas Aquinas* on Knowledge (it’s pretty accurate on resuming his thought):
” Thomas Aquinas, one of the most influential medieval philosophers and theologians, had a profound view on the pursuit of knowledge, rooted in both faith and reason. Aquinas believed that the human desire for knowledge is natural and reflects the fundamental goal of understanding truth, which ultimately leads to the knowledge of God. Here are some key aspects of his perspective:
Natural Desire for Knowledge;
Aquinas asserted that humans have a natural inclination toward knowledge. He based this on the Aristotelian idea that all humans, by nature, desire to know. This drive is linked to the rational soul, which seeks truth as its fulfillment. In Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae, he emphasized that knowing is part of human nature and leads to happiness because it helps align us with the divine.
Different Levels of Knowledge:
Aquinas distinguished between natural knowledge (gained through human experience, senses, and reason) and supernatural knowledge (received through divine revelation). He argued that while humans can know many things through reason, certain truths about God can only be known through divine revelation.
Virtue and Knowledge:
In Aquinas’ view, the pursuit of knowledge was closely connected to virtue, particularly the virtue of studiousness. He warned against the vice of curiosity, where one seeks knowledge for the wrong reasons, such as for pride or fame. Studiousness, on the other hand, is the diligent and humble pursuit of truth, especially in areas that lead us to a deeper understanding of God.
The Limits of Human Knowledge
Aquinas also recognized the limits of human knowledge. While humans can understand much about the world through reason, there are truths—particularly about God—that are beyond human comprehension. These mysteries of faith are not opposed to reason but surpass it, and they call for humility in the pursuit of knowledge.
Conclusion
For Aquinas, the pursuit of knowledge is not only a natural human inclination but a path to ultimate fulfillment. It allows humans to understand themselves, the world, and most importantly, God. Aquinas’ synthesis of faith and reason created a framework where intellectual inquiry is seen as part of the divine plan.”
*Thomas Aquinas was a famous philosopher and theologian, arguably one of the most influential philosophers of all time and very important for “saving back” the Greek philosophy to the western culture. He reflected on about almost everything and his great work where he wrote about almost every philosophical discussion was “Summa Theology.”
P. S. – For non-believers, try to substitute divine, faith and God for words such as “universe”, “optimism” and “truth”
P. S. II – Its thought on curiosity may seem a bit weird for us, but he was using the word with a different definition as we use it today – more as “arrogance” or “pride”