Gilbert Ryle once said that there were two kinds of knowledge, knowing
how (of skills) and knowing that (of facts). Apparently eventhough we
can learn a lot about riding a bicycle, by reading about it, we really
can't ride it without actually trying it out.
Cases provide us with an opportunity to understand the "how of things",
which seems quite different from the "why of things". Cases attempt to
simulate events to train skills response to certain situations. Their
value as vehicles of factual knowledge is a secondary aspect, and
anyway, factual knowledge belongs in a book. I can always look it up! I
do agree that case method is useful in developing cognitive skills but
not of the factual variety.
Mathai Fenn
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