ABSTRACT
In the fall of 1772, Benjamin Franklin, who was the Colonial representative in London at that time, received a letter from the eminent British chemist Joseph Priestly. In this letter, Priestly, who had prorevolutionary sympathies, told Franklin that some of his neighbors had taken umbrage at his pro-Colonial stance and had burned his laboratory and house. He questioned Franklin about his dilemma: should he rebuild and live in England or should he move to the Colonies? Franklin wrote back a very thoughtful letter, beginning it by saying: “I cannot for want of sufficient premises, advise you what to determine, but if you please, I will tell you how.” This statement characterizes very succinctly what a decision aid should do. A decision aid should not tell someone what to do; rather, it should provide a framework within which he can find out for himself.
