User:AJim/checklist

summary of contents

introduction

This chapter sets out the basic problem and its proposed solution:

Philosophers describe 3 classes of failure:

• necessary fallibility - things inherently beyond our capacity
• ignorance - things we do not know how to do
• ineptitude - things we do not do as we should

Since the 1950s the balance between ignorance and ineptitude, in all fields of human endeavor, and especially as the result of scientific advances, has shifted dramatically; we know so much more than we once did, but we struggle with the resulting complexity.

The present situation is this:

• there is stupendous know-how
• it is in the hands of superbly trained and skilled, hardworking and dedicated practitioners
• they routinely accomplish extraordinary things
• but this know how is often unmanageable in the face of the complexity of applying it all correctly

Improvement will not come from more training.

A better strategy for overcoming failure should build on experience and take advantage of knowledge but make up for the inevitable human inadequacies.

This simple, almost ridiculous sounding, strategy is a checklist.