Regressive logic, common sense, and evidentness

In this chapter, Elizabeth Matovinovic, an epidemiologist whose work entails reviewing and appraising the evidence used to formulate guidelines, reflects on the philosophical limitations of the scientific rationale underpinning that work. She concludes that if guidelines are to serve practitioners and patients well, they need to develop methods to understand, legitimise, and build on the sorts of evidence found in collective mindlines. These methods need to include collective ways to render such evidence reliable and usable. She discusses how guidelines developers may need to recognise and build on philosophical principles such as ‘common sense’ and ‘evidentness’.