The Truth
Introduction
A Scottish Author and physician, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has created a fictional detective known as Sherlock Holmes in his writings. Sherlock Holmes is a popular London-based detective who is well known for the use of logical thinking and utilization of forensic science to solve complex cases and mysteries. There are various methods used by Holmes to get to the truth in different stories. Some of the methods used in regard to specific stories will be examined in this paper.
Discussion
For several years, Sherlock Holmes stories have served the role of entertaining its audience in form of comic stories, books and even films created. Sherlock Holmes makes used of austere powers of thinking, keen observation and a little of astuteness to get to the truth and find solutions to complex mysteries and cases. Throughout several Sherlock Holmes’ stories, four key methods are used and followed in an attempt to get to the truth.
The use of observation is the first method. Through observation, a detective can gather relevant facts and information to use in getting to the truth. When one faces a novel problem or situation, it is essential to first of all make an observation, which requires detachment. Sherlock Holmes makes use of intense and icy glares as he takes note of every important detail. An emotionally involving observation is often colored by the observer’s emotion. It is essential for the observer to become as detached as possible in order to allow the available facts to present themselves. It is especially vital to open up all the senses for instance, taking notice of smells, listening carefully, looking with the eyes of a hawk and taking note of nay sound or movements. Any clue or anything that is out of the ordinary should be noted (Doyle and Freeman, 2003).
Sherlock tends to bring out the idea that a person who emotionally reacts to a problem ahs already prejudged that problems or issue. This implies that the mid has already been narrowed through giving the definition of a given problem as bad. Hence, in the initial or fist stages, it is essential to be Taoist. The detective should assume that he or she knows nothing at all. Hence, it is not clear whether the problem is good or bad. The point is to simply observe since every problem has a chance of benefit or opportunity. The point that Sherlock Holmes emphasized is that of not pre-judging a situation prior to observing and gathering facts. He states that “It is a capital mistake to theorize prior to having data. Insensibly one starts to twist facts to suit theories rather than theories to suit facts.”( Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1891), A Scandal in Bohemia).
While every detective strives to be as objective as possible, the angle from which the situation is viewed affects its appearance. For this flaw to be alleviated, it is essential to observe problems and situations from many different perspectives. True observation is only possible through a given degree of self-annihilation. This implies that a detective needs to be completely out of the way in order to perceive a situation in a clear manner. As it is known, “the very essence of humility is learning.” This implies that learning can be achieved through observation. When observation is made using fresh eyes, and unclouded by what people think they know, the observation power is greatly enhanced. In The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier, Holmes says that “I see no more than you, but I have trained myself to notice what I see.” This further stresses the importance of observing and collecting facts prior to making conclusions or judgment.
The essence of observation is gathering the facts and components of a problem or situation. The questions of how, when, why, what, who and where are asked using the common senses that seek, search and question. The observer becomes entirely receptive to the solutions (Doyle, 2003).
The second method that Sherlock Holmes uses to get to the truth is analysis. When examining analysis method, one may consider a jigsaw puzzle, which all the needed pieces. In this situation, the step that should follow is analyzing all the pieces in order to figure out where they go and fit together perfectly. A Large number of pieces make it much easier to make inferences on the appearance of the big picture. This implies that the more perspectives from which a problem is observed, and the more the relevant facts and information gathered, the higher the chances of figuring out the final truth or solution to a problem. For the jigsaw puzzle, one might start out by looking for the pieces that have straight corners. This means that one ahs to look at the patterns that will enable the causes of the problems to be identified. In The Adventure of Bruce-Partington Plans, Holmes says that “Each fact is suggestive in itself and together they have a force that is cumulative.” This implies that each and every fact collected should be sued to make an analysis in order to figure out the most probable answer or solution to a given problem or situation (Doyle, 2003).
Pieces that are affecting the general picture of the jigsaw should be eliminated. The same case applies to a given situation, where an investigator has to eliminate information or facts that are irrelevant. Such are not essential in getting to the truth. Elimination or changing of pieces is the best way to get to the big picture of a jigsaw puzzle. A similar case applies to getting the truth whereby irrelevant information should either be altered or eliminated so that it can fit to the situation at hand.
In The Sign of the Four, chapter 6 (1890), Sherlock Homes says that “How often have is said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however impossible, must be the truth?.” This stresses the importance of eliminating irrelevant facts in the course of analysis in order to come up with the best possible answer that is close to the truth.
The third method that Sherlock Holmes uses to get to the truth is searching for the truth itself. Searching has been partially covered in the form of looking at a problem from different perspectives or angles. When Sherlock Holmes was a in a case, he was more like a bloodhound. He usually bowed down on his knees to peer at cracks bounding through windows, in the floor boards, in the ceilings and even over chairs. He can now be pictured holding a magnifying glass which his eyes clearly focusing to find any hints and clues. InThe Devil’s Foot, Sherlock Holmes has been describes as “being out on the lawn, in through the window, round the room, and up into the bedroom, for the entire world like a dashing foxhound drawing a cover.” This implies the essence of searching in an attempt to get to the truth. Searching is an essential aspect of solving a given problem since the final truth or solution lies in the tiniest details (Doyle, 2003).
The final method or step that Sherlock Holmes uses in getting to the truth is imagination, which may be defined as the workshop of the mind. To help him get to the truth Sherlock Holmes often sought seclusion. He would go far away from all disturbances in order to make use for his imagination skills to freely examine a problem from all perspectives. Just like Einstein, Holmes would take up the fiddle to help him relax. While part of him would take part in playing the fiddle, the largest part of him would be free to come up with innovations and novel ideas. According to Holmes, imagination is the mother of truth. During his free time, he would make use of a wide spectrum of ideas to generate novel knowledge and insight to a given problem or case that he was handling at that given time (Doyle, 2003).
In conclusion, the steps of observation, analysis, searching and imagination play a fundamental role in getting to the truth. All these methods are not only applicable to investigators but also all people who are in pursuit to the truth or solution to complex problems.
Reference
Doyle, Sir A. C., & Freeman, K. (2003). The complete Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1.
Spark Educational Publishing
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