Conscience

(The doctor continued with his explanation.)

"There are many subtle hints of declining well in advance. For example, the CEO of this #9413 sold his Porsche last week, the floor of its reception lobby is covered with an inch thick of dust, and its web page is still showing the information three years ago. Aren't all these sinister signs?"

"Well, ah ... yes," the stock broker was forced to agree, "But they are only proved indicative with hindsight. The problem is usually not we have insufficient information, but we have too much and could not distinguish genuine signal from environmental noise in a jungle of information."

"All the same," the doctor was not a trace more forgiving, "You are the professional. You are supposed to be the expert to extract valuable information and make the decision. What you are telling me is you do not only lower your standard of practice to the adherence of practice guidelines and standard procedures, but you also bring down your level of conscience so that you won't feel guilty as long as you have followed all those amulets written by extra-terrestrials!"

The stock broker was speechless. In a sense his client was right, but, on the other hand, he had no idea how he could pass his days if he were not to lower his level of conscience.