And But Therefore

The idea of the triad of thesis-antithesis-synthesis goes back to Socrates.

The modern-day version is now apparently "and-but-therefore".

I've spent a lot of time working with people to sharpen their presentations.

If anything resonates is that many presentations have the structure of AND AND AND.

A simple pivot to AND BUT THEREFORE makes for a more compelling story. And a more interesting, impactful talk.

It's the same tension as Socrates, but modernized.

There are always pressures to show as much data as possible, but a scientific story is not a series of "ands".

Like any story it should start with and, but quickly pivot to the "But", which is the competing hypothesis or the antithesis.

The synthesis is the "therefore".

Great short piece in science and accompanying TEDMED talk.

If you watch the TEDMED talk, you'll see why Cartman gets a cameo.

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/342/6163/1168.1.short#ref-1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERB7ITvabA4